Child sexual exploitation networks in the UK: an analysis of how they operate

儿童性剥削网络在英国：分析他们如何运作背景儿童性剥削（CSE）目前根据英国法律定义为对18岁以下儿童的性剥削;这发生在犯罪者利用剥削的情况和关系，利用权力的不平衡，操纵儿童进行性活动（教育部，2016）。传统上，用于解决CSE的资源是针对单独犯罪者的，因为大多数犯罪者都是单独行动的（Brayley和Cockbain，2012; Wortley和Smallbone，2006）。然而，最近在联合王国发生的事件突出表明，各种性剥削团体的活动在英格兰和威尔士的城市中组织和参与了对儿童的系统性梳理和性虐待（Brayley和Cockbain，2012年）。在牛津、罗奇代尔、罗瑟勒姆和特尔福德调查的一些备受瞩目的CSE案件中，发现了多名罪犯共同绑架年轻女孩的事件;形成了似乎是有组织的网络。（Cockbain，Brayley & Laycock，2011;对儿童性虐待的独立调查，2018）CSE受害者所遭受的创伤几乎涉及他们生活的方方面面，并与儿童一生中持续的不良后果有关（IICSA研究小组，2017）。然而，CSE的受害者并不是唯一遭受这些犯罪负面影响的人。研究发现，受害者的家庭成员遭受情感创伤和痛苦的比率很高，更广泛的社会因公共服务需求的增加而承受经济负担（IICSA研究小组，2017）。毫不奇怪，这种令人发指的犯罪活动的曝光导致媒体和公众对基于群体的CSE的关注增加，以及对该领域政策和程序实践的审查增加。虽然以前的研究主要集中在受害者和犯罪者的心理和特征上（Paolucci，Alfreis & Violato，2001; Whitaker等人，2008），以及最近这些群体的种族构成（Cockbain，2013; Gill & Harrison，2015），很少有关于这些群体实际运作的研究。清楚了解这些集团在招募、沟通和交易等方面的运作方式，在帮助为调查、起诉和预防等领域的有针对性的警察干预提供信息方面至关重要。此外，对CSE团体背后机制的理解将增加关于CSE和有组织犯罪的更广泛问题的文献。填补文献空白围绕CSE网络及其运作方式的研究有限（Cockbain，Brayley & Laycock，2011），因此需要更多的研究来更好地了解这些团体。在本文中，我将提出一项研究，其中社会网络分析技术应用于CSE网络。此外，我建议对集体和单独的CSE罪犯使用的招募和疏导技术进行比较调查。社会网络分析（SNA）基于这样一个假设，即人们嵌入在复杂的社会关系网络中，分析这些网络为我们提供了有关社会现象的有用信息（Borgatti等人，2009年）。SNA越来越多地应用于社会科学（Cockbain，Brayley & Laycock，2011），但仍有许多领域尚未充分研究其潜力。Cockbain，Brayley和Laycock（2011）发表的一篇论文探讨了在CSE网络分析中使用SNA的可能性，确定了其实用性和对警方的使用。这项研究使用了两组来自对CSE群体的主要警察调查的数据。每个数据集生成两个网络...

Child Sexual Exploitation Networks In The UK: An Analysis Of How They OperateBackgroundChild Sexual Exploitation (CSE) is currently defined under UK law as the sexual exploitation ofchildren under 18 years old; this occurs where a perpetrator uses exploitative situations andrelationships to take advantage of an imbalance of power and manipulate a child into sexual activities(Department of Education, 2016). Traditionally, resources utilised to tackle CSE were directed at solooffenders, as the majority of perpetrators are known to act alone (Brayley & Cockbain, 2012; Wortley& Smallbone, 2006). Recent events in the UK, however, have highlighted the activities of varioussexual exploitation groups which have organised and partaken in the systematic grooming and sexualabuse of children in cities across England and Wales (Brayley & Cockbain, 2012). High profile CSEcases such as those investigated in Oxford, Rochdale, Rotherham and Telford identified incidents inwhich multiple offenders worked together in victimising young girls; forming what appears to beorganised networks. (Cockbain, Brayley & Laycock, 2011; Independent Inquiry into Child SexualAbuse, 2018).The trauma sustained by victims of CSE touches almost every aspect of their lives and isassociated with adverse outcomes that endure over the lifetime of the child (IICSA Research Team,2017). The victims of CSE, however, are not the only people to suffer the negative impact of thesecrimes. Research has found that family members of victims suffer from high rates of emotional traumaand distress, and wider society suffers a financial burden from the increased need for public services(IICSA Research Team, 2017). Unsurprisingly, the exposure of such heinous criminal activity has leadto an increase in media and public attention regarding group based CSE, as well as increased scrutinyon policy and procedural practice in this area. While previous research has focused largely on thepsychology and characteristics of victims and offenders (Paolucci, Genuis & Violato, 2001; Whitaker et al., 2008), and more recently the ethnic make up of such groups (Cockbain, 2013; Gill & Harrison,2015), there is little research on how these groups actually operate. A clear understanding on the way inwhich these groups operate in terms of recruitment, communication and transactions etc., is vital inhelping to inform targeted police interventions across areas such as investigation, prosecution andprevention. In addition, an understanding of the mechanisms behind CSE groups will add to theliterature on the broader issues of CSE and organised crime.Filling the Literature GapThe research available around CSE networks and the way in which they operate is limited (Cockbain,Brayley & Laycock, 2011), therefore more research is required to gain a better understanding of thesegroups. In this paper I will propose a study in which Social network analysis techniques are applied toCSE networks. In addition, I propose a comparative investigation into the recruitment and groomingtechniques used by group and solo CSE offenders.Social Network Analysis (SNA) is based upon the assumption that people are embedded incomplex webs of social relationships, and analysing these networks provides us with useful information regarding social phenomena (Borgatti et al., 2009). SNA is being increasingly appliedto the social sciences (Cockbain, Brayley & Laycock, 2011), however there are still many areas inwhich its potential has not been fully investigated. A paper presented by Cockbain, Brayley andLaycock, (2011) explored the possibility of utilising SNA in the analysis of CSE networks, identifyingboth its practicality and use to the police. This study worked with two data sets from major policeinvestigations into CSE groups. Two networks were produced per data set...