Child Abuse, the Internet & Digital Technology
Last updated: October 7, 2008
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
In recent years there has been a dramatic increase in the referral of a new category of sexual offender, one for whom possibly there has been no direct contact with a victim and whose crime relates to the downloading of child abuse images.
The term “Child Pornography” is from the viewpoint of the offender. To the child it is a record of their abuse, hence always referred to and now adopted across Europe as the correct terminology.
When someone is discovered or strongly suspected of accessing or placing abusive images of children on the internet, consideration must be given to the possibility that the individual may also have had involvement in possible contact offences. The images are a strong indicator that the offender has or may have a sexual interest in children. They need to be investigated and assessed on the basis that they may present a direct risk to any children living with them, being cared for by them or any child (ren) they may be having contact with, and that those children might be in need of protection. The possession, taking, making or distribution of these images is of course an offence and often children/young people have been abused in the creation of these images.
