Tink palmer
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The document summarizes key findings from a survey conducted by the Marie Collins Foundation on internet-related child abuse and protection issues. It reports the number of cases seen in different categories of online child abuse, such as viewing adult pornography, online grooming, and distributing abusive images. It also discusses challenges faced by victims and the importance of training for professionals to recognize signs of online abuse, since children may not report it voluntarily. The lack of research on online child abuse and recovery for victims is also noted.
Tink palmer
- 1. INSAFE CONFERENCE PROMOTING INTERNET SAFETY GLOBALLY: CONNECTING GENERATIONS Plenary session 15th May, 2012 SEXUALITY: JUST TWO SIDES TO THE COIN? SUPPOSITIONS, HOPES AND REALITIES – lessons learned from working with children abused online Tink Palmer CEO, Marie Collins Foundation Cyprus, May 2012 Marie Collins Foundation
- 2. Survey of Barnardo’s services November 2002/3 Just one click! Report published in 2004 • Children who view adult pornography - 5 • Children abused through prostitution using the Internet and mobile phones to contact their abusers - 4 • Adults or young people who engage in ‘cyber sex’ with children - 0 • Children of adults who download or distribute sexually abusive images of children - 1 • Children groomed online for sexual abuse offline - 15 • Children sold online for sexual abuse offline - 7 • Young people who place images of other young people online - 0 • Children who download sexually abusive images of children - 22 • Children sold online for live sexual abuse online - 1 • Children made the subject of child abuse images - 28 Marie Collins Foundation
- 3. Children who view adult pornography - 5 • Availability, quantity and nature of the subject matter • What might be the long term impact on their understanding of intimacy and sex in the context of personal relationships? • Chose to search for adult pornography or encouraged to do so by another? • Impacts on girls • Age at which they start viewing/time spent • I this a growing problem? - Portman clinic – referrals for problematic internet usage – 0% 1997 to 26% in 2010 – adult pornography addiction being the major reason for referral • Key issue is their current developmental stage and the impact such imagery has on the way they think, feel and behave • Case study Marie Collins Foundation
- 4. Adults or young people who engage in cybersex with children - 0 • No cases referred under this category but during treatment programmes it became apparent that cybersex has occurred • Predicted that young people would be most unlikely to report such abuse • No case reported as the presenting problem • Such behaviour on the part of the perpetrator tends to be part of the grooming repertoire • No child has volunteered this information during treatment – counsellor is required to introduce this as a possibility Marie Collins Foundation
- 5. Children abused through prostitution using the internet and mobile phones to contact their abusers and children sold online for sexual abuse offline - 4 + 1 = 5 • New technology changed the manner in which contact is made – more hidden, less risks • Young people “appear” to be pro-active in developing the relationship • They do not (“can not”) perceive themselves as victims • The perpetrator(s) ensures dependency through isolating, drugs, drink, cigarettes • Large increase in online activity since mobile phones internet connectivity • Generally perpetrators are working in groups – mobile technolgies used for frequent and quick communication amongst perpetrators and between perpetrators and children • What happens to the evidence? • Case example Marie Collins Foundation
- 6. Children of adults who download or distribute abusive images of children - 1 • Operation Ore – a need to understand better the relationship between viewing and commissioning further sexual offences against children • What risk does the adult pose to the children in the home? • Impacts on family dynamics • No research • Practice guidance needed • Rise in prosecutions • Better recognition of that the need to understand the relationship between viewing and doing is driven, not only by law enforcement but also by child protection agencies • Still a paucity of research – but we have some useful advances – Michael Seto et al • Little guidance on determining risk • Decisions are disparate regarding outcomes Marie Collins Foundation
- 7. Children who download sexually abusive images of children - 22 • Number of children seen as a cause for concern • Self initiated or introduced by another? • Current practice does not give time for an accurate assessment and for decision making regarding disposal of the matter • The research that we have to date reinforces the initial impression – namely that a significant number of young people are viewing abusive images of children – 30%+ - • Recognition for a timelydual assessment process • Assessment and intervention models developed • No universal application across the UK Marie Collins Foundation
- 8. Young people who place images of other young people online = 0 • Motivation – innocently sending an image to a friend,, intending to embarrass and humiliate someone, a bullying tool • Little reported regarding this behaviour • Sexting - the act of sending sexually explicit messages or photos electronically, primarily between cell phones (mobile phones)” • 40% saw nothing wrong with a topless image and 15% saw nothing wrong with naked images - 27% of respondents said that sexting happens regularly or all of the time • ACPO lead on Child Protection and Abuse Investigations – position statement Marie Collins Foundation
- 9. Children groomed online for sexual abuse offline/online - 15 • Grooming scenario - Find out as much as they can about their potential victim, establish the risk and likelihood of child telling find out about child’s family and social network if “safe enough” will isolate their victim – may use flattery and promises or threats and blackmail – and get control • Give false information, including false self images • A muted understanding of the lack of inhibition • Reframe the grooming scenario • Victims are not going to report –of all the case I have worked with non self reported • Minimal information given when interviewed by the police • Formed online relationships 12/13 – age when abuse was discovered 14/15 – nb . Vulnerable groups/vulnerable stages in development • Very few presented with a history of troubled backgrounds • Recovery is a long haul! Marie Collins Foundation
- 10. What’s different online? Yas – aged 14 • “The internet is a weird version of the real world where you can do everything • Groomers don’t have to worry about seeming suspicious • Children can act like adults • I used people online to make me feel good • Girls use groomers to make them feel mature – groomers use girls for sex – it’s mutual using of one another • Girls get involved with men because nothing much seems to be happening when you’re 12-14 but you want to be older • The most talkative (girls) online are the quietest offline • The most normal (man) online is a real weirdo offline • We rarely talk about our behaviour online – kind of embarrassing” Marie Collins Foundation
- 11. Quotes from children • “I would never have told anyone if the police hadn’t come knocking at our door. It turned out that they had arrested the bloke I was friends with online and had traced me through examining his computer. First off, I said they’d got the wrong person….I was terrified my mum and dad would know what I had been talking about….you don’t even talk to your friends about what you say online….somehow it seems a different world….one in which I can act like I’m 22 when I’m actually only 14” Marie Collins Foundation
- 12. Children made the subjects of child abuse images - 27 • History – availability, old images, introduction of the digital camera • COPINE – monitored the online behaviour of sexual abusers within newsgroups • Numbers • Perpetrators’ strategies to silence children • My hope – very young children, criminal justice system response • Silence/denial • Recovery issues – impotence, shame, responsibility, non resolution of the abuse • Still little evidence base research regarding victims • Insufficient resources to open pandora’s box Marie Collins Foundation
- 13. continued • Data from NCMEC • Relationship of indentified victims to their abuser • 1998-2010 • 3358 identified victims • 66% known to the child • 14% coerced through online grooming • 14% self produced • 3% human trafficker • 3% unknown to the child – un-established relationships • The making of child abuse images is, in the main, an offline crime commtted by people known to the victims • The UK Sentencing Commission – victim statements Marie Collins Foundation
- 14. Some thoughts • Lack of critical understanding of the harms posed by the new technologies • Lack of training, expertise and capacity to investigate such crimes against children, to protect them from harm and assist in their recovery. • Online and offline abuse of children are merged activities • Intervention is a form of prevention (secondary and tertiary) • Children are resilient – with the right help they can recover and lead safe lives • We need to consider vulnerability within the context of child development • We are not reaching the 11 to 14 year olds with the right messages • The children’s workforce – social workers, health, education, police – are not asking the pertinent questions – they need to because the children will not voluntarily tell Marie Collins Foundation
- 15. Barriers to effective listening and to asking the relevant questions The Adult Own pain, experiences, Personal memories, sexuality. View of child/alleged abuser . Values, attitudes, beliefs Feelings Pity, Horror, Shame, Distress, Embarrassment, Anger, Disgust, Uncertainty Doubts Will I cope? Will I make it worse? Is it true? What next? Professional Practicalities ( time, other responsibilities etc.), Knowledge, Skills, Confidence, Legislation, Language, Support available, Possible repercussions.
- 16. tinkpalmer@mariecollinsfoundation.org.uk Mobile; 07825 501180 Tink Palmer CEO Marie Collins Foundation Marie Collins Foundation