Policing Online Child Sexual Policing Online Child Sexual Abuse: Understanding Abuse: Understanding Grooming in the 21Grooming in the 21stst Century Century Dr Elena Martellozzo

Defining online groomingDefining online grooming

Type of on-line behaviour designed to ‘seduce’ or lure children into sexual behaviour or conversations with or

without children’s knowledge (McCarthy and Gaunt,2005)

Process of on-line socialisation during which an offender interacts with a

child in order to prepare him/her for sexual abuse (Davidson and Martellozzo,

2008)

Chat Facilities & Sites for 6-14 year olds (Taylor, 2009)

The Metropolitan Police The Metropolitan Police HTCU: Policing Online AbuseHTCU: Policing Online AbuseEthnographic 4 year research 1 Detective UndercoverYahoo Groups and other Social Networks –

Hi5- My Space- Ringo- Multiply- Green Room- Bebo- Facebook- Twitter

Lucy: 13- profile Picture on lineApprox 2000 individuals were interested in

her profile27 arrests in 12 months

Hyper-confident

Hyper-cautious

Suspicious

A spectrum of confidence from most confident to hyper-cautious

Examples of text from covert operation (Taylor, Examples of text from covert operation (Taylor, 2009)2009)

12 year old girl hi lucy here fmlv_uk38 hi how are you sweetie? 12 year old girl kwl fmlv_uk38 I used to play hockey in my younger days by the way 12 year old girl how old r u now 12 year old girl yeh fmlv_uk38 lol. not too old I hope. good at sex anyway lol 12 year old girl i dont play now fmlv_uk38 discovered boys and sex huh? 12 year old girl aint dun sex yet fmlv_uk38 interested though 12 year old girl corse fmlv_uk38 I'd love to be your first 12 year old girl yeh rite fmlv_uk38 lol 12 year old girl im only 12 fmlv_uk38 I would though - I'm good at it. did you read my hi5 profile? fmlv_uk38 doesn't matter to me - if you want to that's all that counts 12 year old girl hav anothr look in mo 12 year old girl where r u im in London fmlv_uk38 south london 12 year old girl serious fmlv_uk38 of course. I don't lie hun. and if you wanted to visit I'd love

that

ResearchResearchDifferent phases before reaching

the sexual phase: ◦Friendship-forming phase◦Relationship-forming phase◦Risk assessment phase◦Exclusivity phase◦Sexual phase

(Source: O'Connell, 2003:44 )

FindingsFindingsIn less than three minutes the suspect

moves directly to the sexual phase“[have you] discovered boys and sex huh” and “I'd love to be your first [lover]”.

In some cases not much time invested to form a relationship with a child

In OPM it takes approximately 8 minutes for a sexual topic to be introduced

No risk assessment “if you wanted to visit I'd love that”

Offenders’ Modus OperandiOffenders’ Modus Operandi

Half of subjects used texting to further groom the victim

Majority sent CII some type of pornography or child abuse imagery

Two thirds of subjects exposed themselves to the CII via photograph or web-cam

Two third turned up expecting to meet 12 year old girl whilst others arranged but cancelled

Several claimed fantasy or that they knew they were talking to an adult

Chatting to a child?Chatting to a child?“I believed it was another bloke role

playing sexual fantasy of some sort, and in moments of boredom I would go along with it” (SO.7)

“I never genuinely believed that the person was a child and certainly had no intent of any sort as regards to committing any of these offences” (SO.2)

“I didn’t believe from day 1, I genuinely didn’t believe that, that was a 14, 12, 13, 15 year old child” (SO.4)

Offenders CharacterisesOffenders Characterises Majority of groomers

were White males aged 36 to 45

Majority have own children who did not disclose abuse

Half were married or in long-term relationships

Most had no previous criminal convictions

Vast majority had child abuse imagery on their computer or on person when arrested

Half were in possession of Level 5 images

ConclusionsConclusionsSex offenders use Internet to access

indecent images and to groom childrenIt is not possible to identify different

‘types’ of internet offenderGroomed child victims often Do Not

Report AbuseOnline Reporting is necessary but not

always effective (Taylor, 2009; Davidson & Martellozzo, 2010)

Proactive Method of Policing is the only way forward (Taylor, 2009; Martellozzo, 2010)