Online Offending Behaviour and Child Victimisation New Findings and Policy

Online grooming is a topic of increased importance in global debates. This pioneering text offers a comprehensive overview of the established themes and emergent debates relating to the online abuse and victimisation of children.

With important new findings from a European study of online grooming, the first and largest study of its kind, this volume provides a unique insight into the behaviour of offenders and those who are 'groomed', aiming to understand the 'place' of the child in relation to the characteristics of online groomer behaviour. The collection explores how information communication technology facilitates online grooming, as well as the role and impact of social media.

Outlining the latest research on the online behaviour of young people, the volume sets the findings against the rapidly changing legislative and policy context at EU and international level, and also develops guidelines for prevention initiatives. This timely collection will be a valuable resource to scholars in Criminology, Psychology and Sociology, and practitioners and policy-makers engaged in child protection.

Stephen Webster is Head of Crime and Justice Research at the National Centre for Social Research, UK and is a chartered Psychologist.
 
Julia Davidson is Professor of Criminology at Middlesex University, UK and is Co-Director of the Centre for Abuse and Trauma Studies. She is also Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Law at Queensland University of Technology, Australia.
 
Antonia Bifulco is Head of the Department of Psychology at Middlesex University and Co-Director of the Centre for Abuse and Trauma Studies, UK.

Editor's Preface
1. The Context of Online Abuse: Policy and Legislation; Julia Davidson and Petter Gottschalk
2. Theoretical Context of Online Child Sexual Abuse; Julia Davidson and Stephen Webster
3. The European Online Grooming Project Study Design; Stephen Webster
4. Understanding Online Grooming - Findings from the EOGP Study; Stephen Webster and Julia Davidson
5. Psychopathology of Online Grooming; Vincenzo Caretti, Adriano Schimmenti and Antonia Bifulco
6. Social Media and Young People; Julie Grove Hills, Antonia Bifulco and Thierry Pham
7. Young Victims Online; Antonia Bifulco and Thierry Pham
8. Implications and Conclusion; Antonia Bifulco, Julia Davidson and Stephen Webster