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Online child sexual abuse encompasses a range of offenses including the accessing, downloading, sharing and creating of images of child sexual abuse, often referred to as Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). CSAM consumption has increased exponentially, and the lockdowns implemented as a response to COVID-19 have exacerbated this problem. CSAM offenders are more likely than other sex offenders to be married, to have children and to live with a partner and child(ren). Policy, practice and research has largely considered these families within the context of their protective properties, with little consideration for the individual and collective harms that they experience, and their unique support needs. Using data from 20 interviews with family members of those convicted of CSAM offenses in the UK, we propose seven key elements that characterize the impacts of CSAM offending on non-offending family members. We categorize these as: 1) Disenfranchised Grief; 2) Ambiguous Loss; 3) Ontological Assault; 4) Contamination by Causal Responsibility; 5) Wall of Silence; 6) No-Win Situation, and 7) Burden of Responsibility. We propose policy and practice responses to minimize these harms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Background: Between 1 June 2012 and 31 December 2020, there were 49 cases considered by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service where a doctor's misconduct involved child pornography. The determinations concerning these cases provided the data for analysis. Findings: In 47/49 (96%) the regulatory outcome was erasure from the GMC's Medical Register, ending the doctor's career. 12 doctors had been imprisoned for 1 to 20 years, and 19 given suspended prison sentences. In 33/49 (67%) cases the indecent images of children included one or more video recordings. Some of these were of children (including very young infants) being raped, sometimes for prolonged periods, the video recordings sometimes indicating that the child could be seen to be in extreme pain. Interpretation: The high proportion of erasures reflected the gravity of these cases, coupled with the fundamental incompatibility of sexual misconduct involving children with a career in medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Digital forensics analysts are a specialist group of police officers who are involved in investigating cases of online child sexual exploitation and abuse (CSEA), and identifying and classifying child sexual abuse material (CSAM) according to levels of severity, respectively. The existing literature that has examined this phenomenon suggests that this group of police officers are at greater risk of psychological harm as a result of being exposed to CSAM, and that working with this type of material has the potential to significantly affect their mental health and wellbeing. Methods: The study presented here used Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to explore digital forensics analysts’ personal experiences of working in this role, and with CSAM, on a daily basis, as well as how they feel this has impacted on them, and how they manage this. Seven digital forensics analysts from a specialist unit in the UK took part in semi-structured, in-person interviews. Results: Three themes were identified, namely: (i) Once you know you cannot unknow, (ii) Constant struggle to decompress, and (iii) The ups and downs of working as a digital forensics analyst. Participants talked about the difficulty of escaping the reality of the sheer prevalence of CSEA, and that working as a digital forensics analyst ultimately takes a toll on one’s mental health and wellbeing. Discussion: As a result of undertaking this work on a daily basis, participants reported experiencing symptoms comparable to compassion fatigue, secondary traumatic stress, and burnout, and reflected about the long-term or irreversible psychological effect that working in this role may have. Findings are discussed in relation to theoretical and practical implications, as well as directions for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on notions of "addiction" among users of online child sexual exploitation material (CSEM) through a comparative analysis of two qualitative studies. The first is a 17-month anthropological ethnography (participant observation, interviews, and focus groups) in UK group programs for CSEM users, and the second is based on interviews with individuals in sexual offense treatment units of a US prison. We thematically analyze the narratives of 103 CSEM users at different timepoints and settings from pre-trial to incarceration. Those citing "addiction" focused on three areas. First was pornography progression. Second were perceived indicators of "addiction" and alignment/analogy to other addictions, including ideas about losing control; ignoring detrimental consequences and continuing; physiological signs similar to withdrawal; likening to substances; and progression from "softer" to "harder" material. Third, less common was rejecting the "addiction" label, citing choice and responsibility. We situate these results within debates and literature regarding pornography and Internet "addiction"; implications of the label; societal conceptions of sexual offending; harms of CSEM; and treatment/prevention considerations. Lastly, highlighting the merit of interdisciplinary comparative qualitative analysis, we demonstrate similarities in narratives despite differences in location, timeframe, setting, conviction status, intervention programming, and research methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes a UK-based psychoeducational intervention for users of online child sexual exploitation material (CSEM). It is founded on 17 months of anthropological research in group programs with 81 participants and 15 staff. The article argues that group exercises help participants reframe knowledge about their offending, and ultimately reinforce the theoretical concept of discipline (Foucault) toward internal and external surveillance, normalization, and decreased risk. The paper first discusses factors participants believed contributed to offending. It then analyzes the program and participants' experiences, focusing on exercises about the mind (fantasy), Internet usage (disclosure and relationships), needs met by offending (Good Lives and true needs), and planning for the future (relapse prevention). Critical is that participants are encouraged to reengage offline lives and enact discipline on and to the online world. Thus, the article ends with an anthropologically-minded discussion about digital norms, online morality, and implications for Internet offender psychoeducational practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2013, there were an estimated 50,000 individuals involved in downloading and sharing indecent images of children (IIOC) in the United Kingdom (UK). This poses challenges for limited police resources. We argue that police officers can make most effective use of limited resources by prioritizing those offenders who pose the greatest risk of contact offending, by nature of demonstrable pedophilia, hebephilia or dual offending status and thus, those at highest risk must be dealt with first. What is currently lacking is a clear idea of the potential scale of the problem in socio-economic terms and why, therefore, it is so important that evidence-based approaches to offender detection and investigation continue to be a top priority for funders and policy makers. A systematic literature review was undertaken to address two related questions. First, what is the scale of the problem in the UK, in terms of the number of pedophilic and hebephilic individuals who pose a risk of contact offending against a child? Second, what is the potential socio-economic burden generated by the national IIOC suspect pool if left unattended to by targeted police action? Applying population estimates of pedophilia and hebephilia to the male population (16–89 years), we estimate there are between 2,365–5,991 males with paedophila and 12,218–30,952 males with hebephilia who are likely contact offenders. Applying average prevalence and incidence based costing methods to a conservative estimate of one victim per offender, the combined socio-economic burden from these persons could amount to £236-£597 million (incident costs) increasing to £2.9-£7.3 billion (lifetime costs; £3.3-£8.3 billion including QALY measures). Applying the same costs to CEOP (2013) estimate of 50,000 IIOC offenders we estimate that between 6,000 and 27,500 dual offenders could have already committed past contact offenses, contributing an economic burden of between £97–£445 million (incident costs) increasing to £1.2–£5.4 billion (lifetime costs; £1.4–£6.2 billion including QALY measures). Future contact offenses could contribute a further burden of £16–£18.6 million (incident costs) increasing to £198–£227 million (lifetime costs; £226–£260 million including QALY measures). Drawing upon these findings, we argue for the benefits of a research-informed prioritization approach to target IIOC offenders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to extend previous research on the experiences and factors that impact law enforcement personnel when working with distressing materials such as child sexual abuse content. A sample of 22 law enforcement personnel working within one law enforcement organisation in England, United Kingdom participated in anonymous semi-structured interviews. Results were explored thematically and organised in the following headings: "Responses to the material", "Impact of working with distressing evidence", "Personal coping strategies" and "Risks and mitigating factors". Law enforcement professionals experienced heightened affective responses to personally relevant material, depictions of violence, victims' displays of emotions, norm violations and to various mediums. These responses dampened over time due to desensitisation. The stress experienced from exposure to the material sometimes led to psychological symptoms associated with Secondary Traumatic Stress. Job satisfaction, self-care activities, the coping strategies used when viewing evidence, detachment from work outside working hours, social support and reducing exposure to the material were found to mediate law enforcement professionals' resilience. Exposure to distressing material and the risks associated with this exposure were also influenced by specific organisational procedures implemented as a function of the funding available and workload. Recommendations for individual and organisational practices to foster resilience emerged from this research. These recommendations are relevant to all organisations where employees are required to view distressing content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the failure of democratic nation-states to regulate corporate Internet intermediaries who essentially provide access to websites containing illegal and legal pornographic content. Existing literature credits this apparent diminishing regulatory role of states to neoliberalism. Drawing on Wacquant's theory of 'neoliberal statecrafting' can explain the paucity of state media regulation while also accounting for when states do engage in alternative forms of regulation. Through a thematic analysis of key documents, media and interviews with 'elite' stakeholders in Australia and the United Kingdom, this research shows that private actors are generally exempt from state regulation, while individuals are simultaneously subject to punitive mechanisms for problematic and illegal uses of the Internet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Allely and Dubin (2018) and Allely et al. (2019) have emphasised that there are a range of innate vulnerabilities in many individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who are charged with the viewing of indecent images of children (IIOC). Currently, the association between ASD and the viewing of IIOC is poorly recognised and understood both by the general public and clinical and legal professionals. Design/methodology/approach: This is a detailed case study exploring the contributory role of ASD symptomology in the viewing of IIOC. In this case study, the experience of the criminal justice system is also explored. Findings: It is hoped that this case study will provide insight into and understanding of the association and raise awareness of the need to consider this at all stages of the criminal justice system, including in sentencing decisions. It will also more effectively inform the development of appropriate preventative strategies and timely interventions. Originality/value: To the best of the author's knowledge, this is the first detailed case study which explores the contributory role of ASD symptomology in the viewing of IIOC in the academic peer-reviewed literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses policy debates in the United Kingdom and Australia concerning the regulation of online pornographic content as it relates to children. Through a thematic analysis of qualitative interviews with key stakeholders at the negotiation table, we find that rather than positivist notions of the 'developing' and 'vulnerable' child dominating policy discourse, post-modern representations of the 'savvy' and 'agentic' child have come to dominate policy culture and outcomes. In this scenario, the regulatory role of states in providing media protection is diminished, while neoliberal forms of governance that emphasise the responsibility of individuals, including parents and children, have come to dominate the emerging policy landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The metaverse is an emerging convergence of technologies (e.g., virtual reality and blockchains) that enables users to experience mixed/extended realities for various legitimate purposes (e.g., gaming, tourism, manufacturing and education). Unfortunately, the crime and security implications of emerging technologies are often overlooked. To anticipate crimes that the metaverse might facilitate, we report the findings of a nominal group technique (NGT) study, which involved a state-of-the-art scoping review of the existing literature and elicitation exercises with two groups of experts (one a diverse group from the UK and Europe, the other representing international law enforcement) with a wide range of expertise. A total of 30 crime threats were identified in the literature or by participants. The elicitation exercises also explored how harmful, frequent, achievable and defeatable participants anticipated that the crimes identified would be. Ratings for these aspects were largely consistent across the two samples, with crimes of a sexual nature (e.g., child sexual abuse material), and crimes against the person (e.g., hate crime) being rated as presenting the highest future risks (i.e. being high harm and high frequency) and being the most difficult to address. The findings illuminate understanding of the most (and least) harmful and likely crime threats the metaverse could facilitate and consequently help stakeholders to prioritise which offences to focus on. In discussing how the crime threats might be addressed, we consider roles and responsibilities and how theory about the management of physical places might inform crime prevention in the metaverse(s). • There is significant investment in the metaverse and many legitimate use cases are being explored by citizens and industry. • All new technologies create crime opportunities, but these are often overlooked when the technologies are launched. • We survey the literature and experts to understand the crime threats that the (future) metaverse might facilitate. • 30 threats were identified and rated in terms of likely harm, frequency, ease of commission and the difficulty of preventing them. • The research enables policy makers to consider how risks might be addressed to encourage a preferable future metaverse. • Approaches including "place management" are considered that may help to prevent the crimes identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2015, offences surrounding the possession, distributing, creation and publication of images depicting child sexual abuse (IDCSA) are prevalent. As a result, it is well publicised that law enforcement and associated digital forensic organisations are incurring substantial case backlogs in this area. As more investigations of this type are faced, it is becoming increasingly essential for practitioners to maintain an understanding of current legislative developments, as a digital forensic investigation of suspected offences surrounding IDCSA does not just involve the blanket recovery of all digital imagery on a device. Governed by this complex area of law, practitioners must appreciate the intricacies of these offences, ensuring any examination policies are correctly defined whilst recovering information that will support criminal justice processes. In addition, as triage strategies are increasingly employed in an effort to speed up investigations, it is crucial to recognise the types of evidence that are of use to a prosecuting authority in order to ensure these examination techniques are both efficient and effective. This paper offers a comprehensive analysis of legislative developments for offences surrounding IDCSA in the United Kingdom, bringing together the disciplines of law and digital forensics. Evidence of value to a prosecution for these offences is also considered taking into account existing case law precedents in line with contentious areas including the Internet cache and unallocated clusters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Criminal Investigation & Criminology / Revija za Kriminalistiko in Kriminologijo is the property of Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Slovenia, Police and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

An example of a recurrent issue in communities is the legal system's struggle to process problems of young offenders. The main focus of this article is juvenile suspects of crimes considering child pornography. Two topics are discussed: the nature of these crimes and the characteristics of suspects. An analysis of 159 Dutch police files on child pornography shows that almost a quarter of the suspects are under 24 years of age. Of that group, 35% is younger than 18 years. Often, these are youngsters who take sexualised pictures and/or make videos of themselves and/or each other. If this material is distributed via the Internet it becomes a matter for law enforcement agencies. This conclusion forms the base of the Discussion section of this article. Should law enforcement agencies settle these cases in an informal manner? Or should suspects be prosecuted in order to prevent certain types of child pornography from ceasing to be punishable? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Collected Papers of the Law Faculty of the University of Rijeka / Zbornik Pravnog Fakulteta Sveučilišta u Rijeci is the property of Pravni fakultet Sveucilista u Rijeci and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article discusses the role of sexual offences prevention order (SOPO) as a valuable and flexible tool in the control of sexual offending. In order to bring better clarity, consistency and discipline to the exercise of SOPO imposition, the British Court of Appeal heard various unrelated cases together, each of which involved access to child pornography.

The article discusses the Great Britain Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) case R. v. Heathcote-Smith & Melton which deals with a sentencing issue following the conviction of two parties on various charges involving the distribution of indecent images of children. An appeal was launched based on the theory that the judge in 2011 had departed from the sentencing guidelines which were published by the Great Britain Sentencing Guidelines Council in April 2007.

The article presents information on two court cases which raised question about the Great Britain Court of Appeal's powers to consider an appeal against a decision to refuse to vary a sexual offences prevention order (SOPO) with reference to cases including R v. Hoath and R v. Standage. In the R v Hoath case, Hoath was convicted of various offences relating to indecent photographs of children in 2007. Hoath was sentenced to five years imprisonment.

The article discusses a court case wherein the appellant appealed his sentence for doing acts tending and intended to pervert the course of justice and for possessing indecent photographs of children in Great Britain. The appellant was sentenced to 12 years of imprisonment. He was convicted of installing indecent photographs of children to another person's laptop computer. The Court of Appeal allowed the appeal and reduced the sentence to 10 years.

The article presents the author's views on online grooming which is reportedly a new form of criminality. She offers information on online grooming which covers behaviour consisting of an adult who actively approaches and seduces children through the Internet with the intention of committing sexual abuse or creating child pornography. She discusses several issues related to online grooming which include how it should be defined as it is situated online and which investigative powers authorities should have for adequate law enforcement. She compares the definition of online grooming in Great Britain and the Netherlands using a comparative law approach.

The article discusses a court case in which the offender was sentenced to six years and four months' imprisonment for offences relating to indecent photographs of children. In HM Advocate v. Graham, the defendant pleaded guilty to making indecent photographs of children and distributing such photographs. The judge initially sentenced the offender to six months' imprisonment, but the Crown sought to appeal the sentence as unduly lenient. The guidance in England and Wales issued by the Sentencing Guidelines Council in April 2007 is also examined.

The article discusses court cases related to sentencing in Great Britain in 2009. One examines the decision of the court to impose a sentence of imprisonment on the appellant, who attempted arson, for public protection with a minimum term of two years. Another involves an appellant who responded a guilty plea to four charges of making an indecent photograph or pseudo photograph of a child. A case which focuses on the appellant who was convicted of failing to discharge a duty under the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 is also tackled.

The article discusses two appellate cases in which the appellants challenge the imprisonment for public protection (IPP) rulings for sexual crimes against children at the British Court of Appeal. The court upheld the trial judge ruling of imposing IPP on a man charged with child kidnapping and sexual assault arguing that the act of the accused will be psychologically detrimental to the victim. It has made the same decision in the case of man who was convicted of indecent assault of a child and involved in child pornography.

The article comments on the case R. versus Howe in which the appellant pleaded guilty before a magistrates' court to making indecent photographs or pseudo photographs of children and was committed to the British Crown Court for sentence. The defendant was sentenced to imprisonment for public protection with a minimum term of two-and-half years. The sentencing judge concluded that there was a significant risk to the public of committing further specified offenses.

The article presents the case of a man who was charged with unlawful incitement to distribute indecent photographs of children, contrary to the common law in Great Britain. The case explores the increasing complexity of criminal process which is not made by the manner in which legislation is brought into force. It cites the concerns raised by the trial judge over the case's jurisdiction which occurred in Texas.

Internet pornography, especially child pornography, has been a significant concern in British society for several years. This article seeks to examine the prevalence and impact of such material, the way public concern has developed, and media and legislative reactions to this concern. It suggests that a more rational debate of the actual and likely dangers in this sphere is necessary in order both to protect and serve the interests of justice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The arrest of Pete Townshend, lead guitarist for The Who , for downloading and possessing Internet child pornography and the publicity surrounding the case provides an initial point of discussion concerning the emergence of an ethics of the image that is not predicated on the actual evidential status of that image but on more virtual forms of observation. The discussion in this article focuses on three substantive aspects of this event – legislation in the UK and the US, expert psychological discourse, and public discussion in the UK press – in order to present a particular and situated rendering of forms of virtual observation. The context to this discussion concerns the notion that digital imaging technology presages a need for new legislation, law enforcement and social analytical frameworks for understanding and tackling the production, distribution and consumption of images of child sexual abuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents the case of an appellant who pleaded guilty to 17 counts of making an indecent image of a child contrary to section one of the Protection of Children Act 1978 in Great Britain. Sentencing of the appellant to six months' imprisonment and a restraining order under section 5a of the Sex Offenders Act 1997; Terms of the restraining order; Details of the case and legal precedents.

This article examines the application of 'child pornography' law by police, prosecutors and the courts and presents the key findings from the first national study conducted into child pornography trials in the Crown Court in England and Wales against a wider statistical analysis of proceedings for possession of 'child pornography' in the Magistrates' Court. The findings show that there are very few prosecutions in the Crown Court and, of defendants proceeded against, most are involved in the taking of photographs rather than in distribution or possession per se. Notwithstanding, few of these defendants are charged with any additional sexual offence, although in the act of taking an indecent photograph of a child some further offence(s) must inevitably be committed. The findings suggest a relationship between child pornography and child sexual abuse. Defendants engage in disavowal and minimizing strategies, while judges also fail to recognize the dangerousness of those defendants convicted of possession or distribution. Sentencing continues to reflect the view that such child pornographers are benign and prison terms remain at the lower end of the tariff range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When child sexual exploitation material is seized, digital forensics analysts are required to manually process all "unknown" digital material by determining (a) whether a child is present in the image, and (b) whether the image is of an indecent nature (i.e., illegal). The aim of the present study was to (a) assess the reliability with which CSEM is classified as being of an indecent nature, and (b) examine in detail the decision-making process by analysts. Five analysts from a specialist unit at a UK police force took part in the study. Participants coded a set of 100 images in order to (i) determine the presence of a child, (ii) estimate the approximate age of the child, and (iii) establish the level of severity depicted in accordance with the UK's legal classification system. Qualitative interviews were conducted to develop a better understanding of analysts' decision-making during the process of identifying and analyzing child sexual exploitation material. Inter-rater reliability analyses revealed that the level of agreement among analysts was moderate to good in terms of age estimation, and very good in terms of image classification. Using thematic analysis, three superordinate themes were identified, namely (i) establishing the presence of a child, (ii) ambiguity of context, and (iii) coding within legal parameters. A number of specific aspects and features were identified to play a key role in analysts' decision-making process which may be used to inform current developments that aim to partially automate this process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a court case related to perverting the course of justice by deleting indecent images with reference to a court case R v. T [2011] EWCA Crim 729 in Great Britain. In the court case, the appellant T was married to a man who had been convicted of downloading children pornographic pictures from the Internet and was required to comply with sex offender notification requirements. In 2008 the daughter of T found a memory stick with child pornography pictures and T deleted them.

The article focuses on the appropriateness of the automatic application of notification requirements violation of right to private and family life under Sexual Offences Act 2003 to an offender convicted of importing indecent images of children without proof of knowledge that images were of children in Great Britain. It is said that notification requirements to be imposed on those who had been convicted of offenses which were directly connected with exploitation is appropriate.

The aim of the present study was to (a) assess the reliability with which indecent images of children (IIOC) are classified as being of an indecent versus nonindecent nature, and (b) examine in detail the decision-making process engaged in by law enforcement personnel who undertake the difficult task of identifying and classifying IIOC as per the current legislative offense categories. One experienced researcher and four employees from a police force in the United Kingdom coded an extensive amount of IIOC ( n = 1,212-2,233) to determine if they (a) were deemed to be of an indecent nature, and (b) depicted a child. Interrater reliability analyses revealed both considerable agreement and disagreement across coders, which were followed up with two focus groups involving the four employees. The first entailed a general discussion of the aspects that made such material more or less difficult to identify; the second focused around images where there had been either agreement ( n = 20) or disagreement ( n = 36) across coders that the images were of an indecent nature. Using thematic analysis, a number of factors apparent within IIOC were revealed to make the determination of youthfulness and indecency significantly more challenging for coders, with most relating to the developmental stage of the victim and the ambiguity of the context of an image. Findings are discussed in light of their implications for the identification of victims of ongoing sexual exploitation/abuse, the assessment and treatment of individuals in possession of IIOC, as well as the practice of policing and sentencing this type of offending behavior.

The article focuses on the removal of consultant pediatricians David Southall and Roy Meadow from Great Britain General Medical Council's medical register for working in child protection. Southall argued that GMC is tougher on doctors who aim to protect children than with those who were found to access child pornography. He criticized the appointment of parents' advocate Penny Mellor to the expert group of GMC. However, GMC opposed the accusation that they are complicit in a campaign against pediatricians involved in child protection.

The article explores the child pornography case R. v. Duncan handled by the British Court of Appeal in 2005. It states the argument presented by the appellant in his appeal after he was convicted. The decision of the court on the appeal is discussed. Moreover, it examines the Duncan case in relation to some cases.