Final Report - European Online Grooming Project

3. Understanding Online Grooming.................................................................................... 37
3.1 Theoretical context ...........................................................................................................................................37
3.2 Characteristics of Online Groomers, Technology and Websites......................................................................39
3.3 The features of online grooming.......................................................................................................................42
Vulnerability................................................................................................................................................44
Scanning ....................................................................................................................................................45
Identity........................................................................................................................................................46
Contact.......................................................................................................................................................48
Intensity......................................................................................................................................................54
Outcomes...................................................................................................................................................59
4. Offender Maintenance and Risk Management............................................................... 61
4.1 Maintenance.....................................................................................................................................................61
Online environment....................................................................................................................................61
Dissonance ................................................................................................................................................66
Young People and Behaviour ....................................................................................................................74
4.2 Risk Management.............................................................................................................................................75
ICT Logistics ..............................................................................................................................................75
Conversation management........................................................................................................................77
Offending location ......................................................................................................................................78
5. Typology of Online Groomers......................................................................................... 80
5.1 Approach to classification.................................................................................................................................80
5.2 Three grooming types.......................................................................................................................................81
Intimacy-Seeking........................................................................................................................................81
Adaptable Style ..........................................................................................................................................83
Hyper-Sexualised.......................................................................................................................................85
6. Young People Online........................................................................................................ 87
6.1 Empirical context ..............................................................................................................................................87
Risky behaviours online .............................................................................................................................88
6.2 Online Groomers Perceptions ..........................................................................................................................89
Vulnerable young people ...........................................................................................................................90
Risk taking young people...........................................................................................................................92
6.3 Online Groomer – Victim Chat Interaction........................................................................................................95
6.4 Matching offending style with young people.....................................................................................................98
6.5 Resilient young people ...................................................................................................................................100
6.6 Young people online – focus group data........................................................................................................101
Nature and extent of Internet use.............................................................................................................102
Online Safety............................................................................................................................................103
Social Networking - Facebook .................................................................................................................106
Awareness and Perception of Online Groomers......................................................................................110
Attitudes to safety training........................................................................................................................116
7. Implications: Applying the research to practice............................................................... 119
7.1 Safety initiatives in a public health model ...................................................................................................119
Public protection and intervention packages ...........................................................................................120
Targeted programmes for young people..................................................................................................123
How can the industry contribute...............................................................................................................125
7.2 Online groomers assessment and treatment needs ...................................................................................125
Risk assessment......................................................................................................................................126
Treatment approaches.............................................................................................................................127
7.3 Raising awareness across key stakeholders..............................................................................................131
References............................................................................................................................ 133
Appendices........................................................................................................................... 139
Recruitment letters and consent form for online groomers...................................................................................140
Yours sincerely .....................................................................................................................................................141
Online Groomer’s interview topic guide ................................................................................................................144
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