Research Hub

Championing survivor experiences. Driving systems change.

At NAPAC, we believe that lasting change begins with listening to survivors, especially to those whose voices have too often gone unheard. This research hub brings together our position papers, briefing notes and insight reports, all driven by the experiences of adult survivors of childhood abuse.

Our work is uniquely informed by the largest anonymised dataset of its kind in the UK, drawn from thousands of contacts annually to our national support services. Many of those who reach out to NAPAC are disclosing abuse for the very first time. They provide vital insights into the needs, barriers and experiences of survivors who may never have come forward through formal systems.

We hold this information in strict confidence. All data is gathered ethically, anonymised and handled to the highest standards of privacy and safeguarding. We do not record calls. What we share through this research hub is insight, not personal detail. We do so to drive forward trauma-informed policies and practices.

These resources are designed for professionals across sectors including policing, health, government, social care and others working to improve responses to abuse, safeguard children and support those healing from trauma.

Whether you are seeking survivor-led perspectives on justice, practical guidance on safe engagement, or evidence to inform better systems, you’ll find it here.

Because change starts with understanding, and survivors deserve to be heard.

Our Latest Research

Do Police Apologies Help or Harm? Insights grounded in survivor experience

Public apologies by police forces are becoming more common. But do they help survivors, or risk causing further harm? This briefing draws on over 700 survey responses and 258 anonymised support calls to explore how apologies are received by adult survivors of childhood abuse.
 
It reveals a nuanced picture. When apologies are sincere, specific and backed by real change, they can support healing. But vague or reputationally-driven apologies can retraumatise and undermine trust. This paper offers clear, survivor-informed recommendations for institutions navigating this sensitive territory.
 
How to cite this paper:
NAPAC. (2025). Do Police Apologies Help or Harm? Insights from Survivors of Childhood Abuse. The National Association for People Abused in Childhood. www.napac.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/NAPAC-briefing-note-Do-Police-Apologies-Help-or-Harm.pdf

Police-Initiated Contact with Adult Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse: Why Consent and Agency Matter

This position paper was developed in direct response to recommendation 2 of the Casey audit which encouraged police forces to revisit non-recent child sexual exploitation cases and re-engage victims.
 
Drawing on the UK’s largest anonymised dataset of adult survivors – including over 700 survey responses and frontline support calls – NAPAC examines the impact of unsolicited contact by police. The evidence is clear: when contact is made without consent or support, it risks retraumatising survivors and damaging trust. Survivors overwhelmingly told us they want agency, not ambush.
 
This paper calls for a fundamental shift in national strategy: survivor-led, trauma-informed engagement must be the foundation of any future approach.
 
How to cite this paper:
NAPAC. (2025). Police-Initiated Contact with Adult Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse: A Survivor-Informed Position Paper. The National Association for People Abused in Childhood. www.napac.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/NAPAC-position-paper-Police-Initiated-Contact-with-Adult-Survivors-of-Child-Sexual-Abuse-2025.pdf

Redefining Justice: Survivors’ Perspectives, Pathways and Positive Outcomes

This paper, underpinned by NAPAC’s extensive ‘Survivors as Stakeholders’ research , explores three critical objectives to a) redefine justice, b) illuminate routes to justice, and c) define what a successful outcome truly means for survivors.
 
It was developed as part of NAPAC’s ongoing role as a thematic lead on the CSE taskforce, where we are working diligently to ensure that survivors’ experiences and voices are influencing positive change within operational policing and the wider justice system.
 
How to cite this paper:
NAPAC. (2025). Redefining Justice:Survivors’ Perspectives, Pathways and Positive
Outcomes The National Association for People Abused in Childhood. 
https://napac.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Redefining-Justice-Survivors-Perspectives-Pathways-and-Positive-Outcomes_2025.pdf

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