Dr Sarah Napier
Research Manager
Barriers and facilitators for detection of child sexual abuse: Results from offender interviews
This study examined data from qualitative interviews with 50 individuals convicted for child sexual offences, to draw insights on how they were detected and the facilitators of and barriers to detection. All contact child sexual abuse (CSA) offenders were detected via the victim or another individual reporting them to police. In some cases, an adult such as a family member (often the victim's mother) or teacher identified evidence of the sexual offending, or the victim disclosed the offending to them, and they reported it to police. The present study identified significant barriers to detection of contact sexual offending against children. These were usually in the form of the respondent planning the time and location of their offending to ensure an absence of witnesses, the victim not reporting or delaying reporting, or other individuals being aware of the offending but not reporting it to police.
Most child sexual abuse material (CSAM), solicitation and mixed offenders in the study were detected via proactive policing methods. In some cases, a member of the public reported them to police, and in others they turned themselves in. All types of child sexual offending presented barriers to detection, including offenders planning their offending to avoid witnesses, covering tracks online, and victim-survivors or individuals who were aware of the offending not reporting to police. It is imperative to enhance focus on interventions that encourage disclosure and reporting of child sexual abuse and exploitation offending by bystanders and provide victim-survivors safe mediums through which to disclose abuse.
Sensitive Content
Open Access
Planned circumvention behaviours of young people and parents in response to Australia’s Social Media Minimum Age legislation
Australia's social media minimum age (SMMA) legislation restricts people in Australia under 16 years from holding accounts on specified social media platforms. As the SMMA legislation aims to protect children and adolescents from online risks that can harm their health and wellbeing, it is important to investigate their plans to comply with or circumvent the restrictions. Prior to the new law coming to effect, the AIC conducted two separate surveys: a school-based survey of young people aged 11-15 years, and panel survey of adult parents.
One in five (21.6%) respondents from the school-based survey said they would try to use the restricted social media platforms, and even more said they thought other young people would try to use them (60.5%). Young men and respondents who spent more time spent on social media per day were more likely to say they planned to use restricted platforms. When asked how they planned to access restricted platforms, these respondents most commonly said they would use a fake age (39.0%), or ask an older person to help them set up a profile (32.5%).
Nearly one in five (18.0%) respondents from the parent survey said they would help their child circumvent the legislation by helping them set up a profile on a restricted platform. This was more common among parents who were men (22.2%), aged 18-34 (31.7%), LGB+ (25.8%), had been a victim of cybercrime (23.5%) or whose child had been a victim of online sexual exploitation or bullying (27.7%), and who used tech-based parental controls (20.9%). While the motivation of some parents may be to help protect their children by controlling their use of restricted platforms, findings highlight priority areas for targeted education.