Policing Indecent Images of Children. What are the Critical Issues Surrounding Police Risk Assessment?

Abstract

This paper will explore the key issues associated with the assessment of risk posed by individuals suspected of accessing indecent images of children (IIOC). The key themes discussed involve the breadth of the problem, the reason for police involvement, the content of IIOC being accessed, the ramifications for child victims, the relationship between IIOC offenders and contact offenders, the current approaches to risk assessment and the available risk assessment tools that can help prioritise high and low risk offenders. Overall, there is little consensus across police services internationally regarding the method of risk assessment for IIOC offenders. It is possible that without further investigation into the methods of formal and information prioritisation of offenders, and the manner in which risk assessment tools are utilised, police may allocate resources incorrectly and potentially, overlook seemingly low risk individuals engaging in high risk contact offending. The implications for this are catastrophic for child victims of contact IIOC offenders as the offence may go undetected as a consequence. The need for collaboration across disciplines is called for.