Paedophiles, pornography and the Internet: Assessment issues

As yet, little is understood of the potential problems and benefits associated with Internet use, and the resulting social outcomes that may arise. This article examines issues that emerged out of a subset of nine interviews with social workers and probation officers, namely the feelings by such practitioners that they did not understand the function of the Internet for adults with a sexual interest in children. The analysis of these data is not examined in detail, rather an attempt is made to address the issues raised through a discussion of the role of child pornography, how it is accessed through the Internet and what implications this might have for assessment. The data are drawn from ongoing research by the COPINE (Combating Paedophile Information Networks in Europe) Project.