‘Unhelpful’ preconceptions on online child abuse

We must stop thinking that those viewing online child pornography are a lower risk to children than a person convicted for sexually abusing a child, according to a leading child protection consultant.

As online child abuse is a recent phenomenon, there is a lack of academic research in the area and subsequently, a number of “unhelpful” preconceptions have taken root, said Valerie Sheehan, a director of Mentor Forensic Services.

However, she says “the more we research in this area, the more we understand that the nature of harm that these offenders can pose can be very broad”.