UK expert helping fight child abuse in Cambodia

It takes teamwork to make a difference and at Cambodian Children's Fund UK we rely on a network of people across the world, including the UK, willing and able to help make our work a success. Read about how Nigel is helping CCF in the fight against child abuse in Cambodia.

People like retired UK police officer Nigel Lee, one of our team of ‘heroes’ working away in the background bringing about positive change for vulnerable children and young women in Cambodia. Nigel, a former detective sergeant, is now a Senior Lecturer in Criminology at Solent University in Southampton. He was still a serving police officer when he first became involved with CCF’s Child Protection Unit (CPU) when it launched in 2013 as a unique initiative between CCF and the Cambodian National Police.

The CPU works with the police to investigate the most serious cases of child abuse in Cambodia, protecting vulnerable children and bringing child abusers to justice. It also provides specialist care and support for child victims and their families.

Nigel volunteered his own time to write a 5-day training course on serious crime and child abuse investigation and travel to Cambodia to deliver to the new CPU staff. It has since developed to include the Cambodian National Police and the anti human trafficking department.

“It was meant to be a one-off course but it went so well that the relationship developed from there. It’s very rewarding work as you know that sometimes little things can make a big impact in a country like Cambodia,”

Nigel Lee

Having spent 25 years in the police - the last 15 investigating the sexual and physical abuse of children and safeguarding practices - he was able to bring a lot of expertise in the field and knowledge to assist the CPU. Nigel and other former UK police officers continue to give up their own time to work with the CPU on a voluntary basis, remotely and in Cambodia. In 2021 alone, the CPU undertook 313 major investigations, including the murder and rape of children.

Nigel’s work developing and delivering training courses is helping the CPU and Cambodian National Police to investigate and prevent crimes being committed against children, and bring offenders to justice with an impressive 85% overall arrest last year.

Courses and training contribute to capacity building and self-development of the local police. A course to help develop the skills of female police officers specialising in interviewing child victims of sexual abuse, which Nigel wrote and delivered, has led to a change in the way evidence is delivered at court from children who have been victims of abuse, subjecting them to less re-traumatisation.

These courses have been assessed and fully accredited by Solent University. In 2019, Nigel was awarded the Mahasena (Commander) of the Royal Order of Sahametrei - one of the highest honours available for non-Cambodian nationals - in recognition for his help to protect vulnerable children in Cambodia and gave a voice to victims of child abuse.

“To be able to pass on this knowledge, and play a small part in Cambodian Children’s Fund and the CPU’s ongoing improvement and development of Cambodia’s police and judicial system is the least I can do,” says Nigel.

James McCabe, Director of Operations at the CPU, said:

“Crimes against children is a global issue and is even more difficult to combat in developing countries. Having experts like Nigel who are willing to give up their own time to support the CPU with their expertise, knowledge and experience is truly amazing and commendable.”

To find out more about Cambodian Children's Fund and how you can help, visit our website at https://www.cambodianchildrensfund.org