A preliminary investigation into online sexual offending in one police force in England: insights for developing police management strategies

Verity Wainwright; Lily Hill; Saied Ibrahim; Polly Turner; Sandra Flynn

doi:10.1093/police/paaf024

A preliminary investigation into online sexual offending in one police force in England: insights for developing police management strategies

Verity Wainwright^*, Lily Hill, Saied Ibrahim, Polly Turner, Sandra Flynn

^*Corresponding author for this work

Division of Psychology & Mental Health (L5)

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

There has been an increase in online child sexual abuse and offences involving Indecent Images of Children (IIOC). A random sample of 188 suspects reported to have committed IIOC offences in Greater Manchester was examined. In total, 126 cases (67%) involved the possession of IIOC. Overall, 99 suspects (53%) engaged in repeated sexual offences. Suspects were charged with an offence in 98 (52%) cases. In 102 (54%) cases, offenders were added to the Sex Offender Register; of these, 86 (84%) were subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. Of those on the Sex Offender Register (102/185; 54%), 56 (56%) went on to be accused of further sexual offences. We found that individuals reoffended at higher rates than reported in the literature. Being subject to registration notification requirements or orders did not prevent recidivism. Early intervention and alternative management approaches for those who engage in online sexual offending are recommended.

Original language	English
Journal	Policing (Oxford): a journal of policy and practice
Volume	19
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1093/police/paaf024
Publication status	Published - 20 Jun 2025

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1093/police/paaf024

Cite this

@article{bd7c24ccb7d34b138a066ace458a1306,

title = "A preliminary investigation into online sexual offending in one police force in England: insights for developing police management strategies",

abstract = "There has been an increase in online child sexual abuse and offences involving Indecent Images of Children (IIOC). A random sample of 188 suspects reported to have committed IIOC offences in Greater Manchester was examined. In total, 126 cases (67\%) involved the possession of IIOC. Overall, 99 suspects (53\%) engaged in repeated sexual offences. Suspects were charged with an offence in 98 (52\%) cases. In 102 (54\%) cases, offenders were added to the Sex Offender Register; of these, 86 (84\%) were subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. Of those on the Sex Offender Register (102/185; 54\%), 56 (56\%) went on to be accused of further sexual offences. We found that individuals reoffended at higher rates than reported in the literature. Being subject to registration notification requirements or orders did not prevent recidivism. Early intervention and alternative management approaches for those who engage in online sexual offending are recommended.",

author = "Verity Wainwright and Lily Hill and Saied Ibrahim and Polly Turner and Sandra Flynn",

year = "2025",

month = jun,

day = "20",

doi = "10.1093/police/paaf024",

language = "English",

volume = "19",

journal = "Policing (Oxford): a journal of policy and practice",

issn = "1752-4512",

publisher = "Oxford University Press",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - A preliminary investigation into online sexual offending in one police force in England: insights for developing police management strategies

AU - Wainwright, Verity

AU - Hill, Lily

AU - Ibrahim, Saied

AU - Turner, Polly

AU - Flynn, Sandra

PY - 2025/6/20

Y1 - 2025/6/20

N2 - There has been an increase in online child sexual abuse and offences involving Indecent Images of Children (IIOC). A random sample of 188 suspects reported to have committed IIOC offences in Greater Manchester was examined. In total, 126 cases (67%) involved the possession of IIOC. Overall, 99 suspects (53%) engaged in repeated sexual offences. Suspects were charged with an offence in 98 (52%) cases. In 102 (54%) cases, offenders were added to the Sex Offender Register; of these, 86 (84%) were subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. Of those on the Sex Offender Register (102/185; 54%), 56 (56%) went on to be accused of further sexual offences. We found that individuals reoffended at higher rates than reported in the literature. Being subject to registration notification requirements or orders did not prevent recidivism. Early intervention and alternative management approaches for those who engage in online sexual offending are recommended.

AB - There has been an increase in online child sexual abuse and offences involving Indecent Images of Children (IIOC). A random sample of 188 suspects reported to have committed IIOC offences in Greater Manchester was examined. In total, 126 cases (67%) involved the possession of IIOC. Overall, 99 suspects (53%) engaged in repeated sexual offences. Suspects were charged with an offence in 98 (52%) cases. In 102 (54%) cases, offenders were added to the Sex Offender Register; of these, 86 (84%) were subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order. Of those on the Sex Offender Register (102/185; 54%), 56 (56%) went on to be accused of further sexual offences. We found that individuals reoffended at higher rates than reported in the literature. Being subject to registration notification requirements or orders did not prevent recidivism. Early intervention and alternative management approaches for those who engage in online sexual offending are recommended.

U2 - 10.1093/police/paaf024

DO - 10.1093/police/paaf024

M3 - Article

SN - 1752-4512

VL - 19

JO - Policing (Oxford): a journal of policy and practice

JF - Policing (Oxford): a journal of policy and practice

ER -

A preliminary investigation into online sexual offending in one police force in England: insights for developing police management strategies

Abstract

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Cite this