Conversely, in the relatively less serious and the serious but not current cases notification was often the first priority. Differences in the way in which agencies interpret their role and decide how to act is partly due to weaknesses in the protocols. A major weakness identified was that the protocols allow too much scope for independent action by individual agencies. The protocols are predominantly crisis orientated and do not address the medium to long term objectives of intervention. Protocols thus encourage agency capture - the exercise of rights of possession over that part of the case which falls within an agency's domain, particularly an agency of first contact.
Agency capture is part of a wider problem that is now recognised as systems abuse.
This occurs when intervention becomes an end in itself. Workers may fail to recognise the impact their interventions can have on the child victim, whose psycho-social needs may be ignored. The child becomes doubly victimised - initially through the assault, then by 'the system'. Systems abuse is usually preceded by system capture. If intervention in itself is regarded as necessary, being seen to do something becomes more important than what might be achieved.