More than 50% of those who admitted to watching online child abuse said they were not seeking these images out when they were first exposed to illegal material. These figures give an insight into the potential of reaching people early and providing help and alternative pathways in a proactive format as one strategy to avoid future abuse and victims.

Prevention is a part of the holistic approach to combat CSAE. It supports the traditional forms of reactive policing by decreasing the number of offenders and criminal cases. Thus, we must take proactive steps to reach people with a sexual interest in children and those who fear they might offend, and offer them alternative pathways away from abuse and criminal activities. Furthermore, prevention requires increased training and education to build social resilience to online and offline threats. Legislative and policy changes must also support the work required to address these challenges and to empower prevention as an effective tool in a whole-system approach.

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Through recent research in the Darknet, we know that more than 50% of those who admitted to watching online child abuse said they were not seeking these images out when they were first exposed to illegal material. These figures highlight the importance of reaching people early and providing help and alternative pathways in a proactive format as one strategy to avoid future abuse and victims.

Prevention is a part of the holistic approach to combat CSAE. It supports the traditional forms of reactive policing by decreasing the number of offenders and criminal cases. To effectively change and influence the perception of prevention – specifically working with people at risk of offending, it is crucial we explore opportunities to raise awareness of the scale of CSAE, but also to illustrate the possibilities for providing guidance and support to people at risk of offending, providing alternative pathways for individuals to seek support and control their behaviour.  

Legislative and policy changes must also support the work required to address these challenges and to empower prevention as an effective tool in a whole-system approach.

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of users seeking CSAM in the internet was first exposed to such a material while they were under the age of 18. 37% of responders were under 13 years old. (Source)

of teens (13-17) say sharing nudes is normal among their peers increasing the potential risk of misuse and images being shared without the consent. (Source)

fear that their use of CSAM might lead to sexual acts against a child. (Source)

have tried to stop using CSAM. (Source)

have found help to change behaviour. (Source)

Prevention covers a spectrum of actions. Specialists distinguish between primary (or universal), secondary (or selected), and tertiary (or indicated) prevention. Whilst there is no universal agreement about the precise distinctions between those three levels of prevention when applied to crime, the crucial insight is the possibility that interventions may be directed to preventing sexual violence before it would otherwise first occur (primary or secondary prevention); as well as after its occurrence, to prevent further offending and victimisation (tertiary prevention).

The comprehensive prevention framework incorporates the criminological thinking referred to above and invites us to consider targets for interventions that:

• prevent offending or re-offending by offenders (who, before they offend, are termed potential offenders)

• prevent victimisation or re-victimisation of children

• prevent an offence or further offence within a specific family or community

• prevent an incident or recurrence of child sexual abuse in a specific situation or place