Increase in internet sexual abuse photos

THE number of internet photographs depicting sexual abuse of babies and toddlers is rapidly increasing, an expert has warned.

Professor Max Taylor of University College Cork's COPINE (Combating Paedophile Information Networks in Europe) project, said the level of abuse against children depicted in photographs circulating on the net was getting more vicious and sadistic.

Speaking at a seminar in UCC at the weekend called Understanding Child Pornography, Professor Taylor said while the typical age of children appearing in abusive images on the internet was between six and 12, the age profile was getting younger.

"I would certainly say more babies and toddlers are appearing in these images and the abuse is getting worse. It is more torturous and sadistic than it was before.

"We only see a small sample of what is out there just the tip of the iceberg," he said.

Prof Taylor heads up the COPINE Project which was founded in 1997 and applies forensic and clinical psychology to the analysis of sexual exploitation of children on the internet.

It is also trying to identify victims from the images on the internet and help develop assessment and therapeutic initiatives designed for internet offenders.

Prof Taylor said demand for these images was driving the huge growth in the numbers of new children appearing in the images.

On average, 20 new children are appearing each month on the internet in abusive or highly graphic sex poses.

Prof Taylor said most of the resources seem to be directed at the offender, catching him and rehabilitating him.

Much fewer resources are targeted at the children in terms of trying to identify them and getting them counselling and support services.

Despite all the high-profile police operations around the world such as Operation Candyman in the US, Operation Wonderland in Britain and Operation Amethyst in Ireland, he said only 150 children have been identified.

Another speaker, Dr Ethel Quayle, (ok) also with COPINE project, said the internet was increasing the capacity for adults with a sexual interest in children to offend.

"The internet lessens social risk and lowers inhibitions. You can be who you want to be on the net.

"It also helps to rationalise and normalise this behaviour for offenders and can be used as an aid to seduce more children," Dr Quayle said.