National Threat Assessment 2008. Organised Crime - Politie

continued existence of both the production and distribution of images of child
abuse. However, no empirical data are currently available to draw substantiated
conclusions about the form of collaboration in these networks.
2.9.4 Consequences for Dutch society
The consequences for the victims of the production and distribution of images
of child abuse are particularly serious, in terms of both physical and (often longterm)
mental harm. As far as we know, the groups involved in these practices
on a commercial basis have no ties with the Netherlands and nor do the children
they abuse. Strictly speaking, according to the underlying principle of this report,
these consequences do not affect the Netherlands. The links with the
Netherlands concern the purchase of commercially produced images. In fact,
the economic damage for the producing countries – since money disappears
into illegal circles – does not constitute harm to Dutch society either. There are
indications that the money is invested in the producing countries themselves.
The involvement of Dutch payment companies has been proven, but little
information is currently available about the scale of their involvement and
the methods used.
The assumed methodology behind the online paedophile networks contributes
to their perpetuation and possibly also to the promotion of the production and
distribution of images of child abuse. Dutch nationals and Dutch victims are
known to be involved in this non-commercial form of trading in images of child
abuse, which is why it has serious consequences for Dutch society. However,
no empirical data are currently available to give an impression of the nature
and scale of these networks. It is a world into which investigating authorities
find it difficult to gain an insight.
2.9.5 Conclusion
The production and distribution of images of child abuse organised by foreign,
commercial criminal organisations has few links with the Netherlands, but there
are consumers of child pornography in the Netherlands, and it has been proven
that Dutch payment companies are (or were) involved in online transactions.
That in itself may warrant further investigation but, as yet, the commercial
production and distribution of images of child abuse is no specific threat to
Dutch society.
As regards the non-commercial production of images of child abuse originating
in the Netherlands and the distribution thereof via online networks, the
90 National Threat Assessment 2008 – Organised crime