Child pornography offenders and practical research: an evidenced-based approach to prioritising the investigation

To develop a common tactical approach in the protection of children, law-enforcement agencies are required to strengthen networks and relationships across Europe and the world. What constitutes as a child pornography offence within Europe varies considerably, although there is a common understanding that a combined approach is needed to deal with it. From a European perspective the further question is whether cultural specificity exists? The authors highlight the potential significance of culture and adequate understanding of the diversity of these cultures in regard to this type of crime. Recent studies have begun to explore the specific relationship between possession of the actual child pornography and the likelihood of being a contact offender. These studies were based on a corpus of knowledge which has effectively examined three questions: what are the key features of ‘Indecent Images of Children’ (IIOC) offending? How do offenders use IIOC within their offending? How prevalent are contact sexual abusers within indecent image offender samples? This paper will therefore present an overview of the three questions and then describe the current issues within contemporary studies around the ability to prioritise child pornography offenders

Understanding the use, and misuse, of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) in trauma-informed policing

An increased awareness about how trauma impacts upon children and adults is vital for the identification of vulnerability, development of trauma-informed policing and strengthening the case for the prevention. ACEs provide an easily understandable framework which could help to develop trauma-informed practice and responses. However, there are potential misuses of ACEs in policing, for example using ACE scores or specific single ACEs as the basis for decisions or as intervention thresholds. In this article we review the current evidence with a focus on the strengths, current issues and risks in the use of ACEs across policin

Sex Offences Perpetrated Against Older Adults: A Multivariate Analysis of Crime Scene Behaviors

The aim of this study was to thematically explore the relationship between crime scene behaviors and background characteristics of offenders who commit sexual offences against female victims aged 60 years or more. Research and understanding of offence behaviours in this area is extremely limited, therefore, the study sought to provide a preliminary understanding and multivariate model of offence behaviours in cases where older female adults were sexually abused. Twenty-seven crime scene behaviours from 143 rape or attempted rape cases of an older adult victim were analysed, frequency data was computed to provide base rate information and Smallest Space Analysis provided a visual representation of the co-occurrence of crime scene behaviors. Three distinct dominant themes were identified in that 56% of offences displayed themes of Involvement (22%), Control (17%) and Hostility (16%). The relationship between each dominant theme and selected background characteristics was then analysed. For example, offenders displaying an Involvement theme were found to be significantly less likely to have prior convictions. Significance was also found in the relationship between dominant themes and a ‘theft and kindred offence other’ pre-conviction background characteristic. The findings demonstrate offending behavior can be separated into three distinct themes, providing an explanation of offender subtypes and supporting previous models found in other types of sexual offending. Applications for law enforcement agencies regarding identified themes and links with likely offender background characteristics are highlighted. Limitations and future research avenues are discussed

Trunk muscle training, posture fatigue, and performance in laparoscopic surgery

Purpose: To investigate the effect of trunk muscle endurance training on the perception of back postural fatigue and performance of a laparoscopic task. Materials and Methods: Thirty-one medical students (18 men and 13 women) with no laparoscopic surgical experience were randomly assigned to either a training group or a control group. Participants in the training group underwent a 6-week, 18-session trunk (abdominal and back muscle) endurance training program, whereas participants in the control group did not. Performance by all participants was assessed on a simulated laparoscopic task under varying conditions of low back postural fatigue, both before and after the training program. Results: Participants in the training group showed significant improvements in trunk endurance after the 6-week trunk endurance training program (P 0.05). Conclusion: Increasing trunk endurance can reduce postural fatigue and discomfort during simulated laparoscopic tasks, which may assist in the management of errors during laparoscopy. © Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. 2008.published_or_final_versio

Adverse childhood experiences: Breaking the generational cycle of crime

The research explored the policing landscape when responding to vulnerability by evaluating the ACE-informed vulnerability training and early collaborative processes between police and partners. Overall, it has provided key insights regarding how multi-agency organisational processes and practices could better meet the needs of vulnerable individuals by intervening at the earliest opportunity, providing essential and early support to vulnerable children and families

Benefits of delivering Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) training to police: An individual perspective

Across the United Kingdom, vulnerability is the biggest area of demand for police. However, evidence demonstrates that some forces may not be equipped to respond to the volume and nature of this demand. Beyond their statutory duties, operational police are often unaware of how to best respond to vulnerability within their roles. For many police officers and staff, there is limited training available to develop the skills needed to provide frontline support to vulnerable individuals and to signpost and refer to agencies who can provide the appropriate needs-based services. The Early Action Together (E.A.T.) program is delivering transformational change across Wales to support police and partners who wish to adopt a whole-systems response to vulnerability that enables early intervention and prevention. Drawing on the evidence around Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and the impact these early experiences can have on life outcomes, training is delivered to police and partners to embed ACE- and trauma-informed approaches into everyday practice. Evaluation of the training is already evidencing some key benefits of using this approach, with officers identifying and applying rootcause understanding of crime and harm and developing public understanding of existing early intervention assets and pathways of support in their local area. However, careful consideration and planning are required to ensure that these approaches continue to be embedded beyond the life of the program

Evaluation of Integrated Multi-Agency Operational Safeguarding Arrangements in Wales

The evaluation requirement set out two key elements to be achieved from the evaluation work: 1. A full UK/National literature review of multi-agency safeguarding arrangements of both adults and children (the ‘Front Door’ approach) 2. Ascertain the range of current arrangements operating in Wales and their key features. The evaluation team made contact with 33 nominated safeguarding leads with assistance from NISB, with 29 included in the data analysis across all 22 Local Authorities within Wales. Due to the global pandemic of Covid-19, planned telephone interviews with each individual lead were also offered to be completed via an open survey, which could be returned via email in Welsh, or English. Data was transcribed and analysed using N-vivo for thematic analysis. In summary, the data highlighted some key areas: • There is evidence of effective adoption of ‘Front Door’ services, with this seen as open and accessible to all (via various forms of communication: email, phone, to all users: general public through to specialist services/organisations). • There is evidence of successful adoption of language and vision from the Social Services and Wellbeing Act (2014) and new All Wales Safeguarding Policy in terms of being ‘person centred’, emphasising the individual and family at the heart of decision making processes. • All 22 Local Authorities are engaged in multi-agency collaborative working, however, the way these operate vary significantly (see Table 7). • It was clear when trying to identify relevant individuals to interview that children and adult services were often seen as separate. Initial plans were to interview 1 safeguarding lead from each LA, but on speaking to nominated leads they often had responsibility for one area, for example children safeguarding, and would therefore provide an additional name to follow-up with regarding adult safeguarding processes and provision. o Discussions with safeguarding leads furthered this issue with disagreement as to whether these should be more joined up, or distinctive, specialised and purposely separated. • Some adult safeguarding nominated leads spoke extremely passionately about recent policy and legislative amendments with focus on adults having an equal statutory footing within safeguarding. However, frustrations from adult safeguarding leads still emphasised the need to use ‘duty to enquire’ to push for action, indicating that adult safeguarding still had much more work to be done to achieve similar level of response to children. • Although ‘Front Door’ arrangements were said to be well established in all 22 LA’s, it is clear from the various arrangements (see Table 7) that these were not always co-located with safeguarding teams, with concerns about how processes and pathways across the whole system can be seen, shared, audited and importantly how learning can be taken forward. Those co-located (‘Front Door’ and safeguarding teams’) seemed to have better collaborative working, with talk of more support and learning coming from face to face conversations about cases as they come in. • The above point was furthered in regards to difficulties with Information sharing systems that inhibit understanding data across services (children and adults, also for ‘Front Door’ to safeguarding), which then limits capacity to plan resources and conduct quality assurance (QA) processes. o All those that engaged with the study were asked for referral numbers to give estimation of size of demand across each service. However, some were able to give all parts of the system, for example, ‘Front Door’ through to safeguarding including adults and children, whereas others were only able to provide their service and could not access further data. This once again highlights issues with being able to see the whole system. • There were different viewpoints and implementation of multi-agency arrangements between those using more virtual multi-agency arrangements compared to physical MASHs, particularly when these are in rural and urban areas. o Covid-19 restrictions have further emphasised variances within rural and urban safeguarding provisions. Rural areas seemed more prepared and functional with remote working, compared to urban areas stating concern about eroding relationships between organisations if remote working continued. • There was evidence of effective engagement from key agencies in information sharing and decision making processes, with high levels of engagement with police, but issues with other organisations engaging as necessary. Education and CAMHS were often mentioned. • Although not mentioned frequently, some safeguarding leads discussed issues regarding resourcing and turnover of staff. In addition, a couple mentioned their concerns in being able to adequately support their team dealing with vulnerable families, when they have lost their physical support (peer) network (due to covid-19 restrictions and remote working). • Overall nominated safeguarding leads talked confidently about their safeguarding aims and how they were achieving these, with most acknowledging that there is still much work to be done

Alternative approaches to achieving community safety and well-being across law enforcement and criminal justice: Western European findings

This paper provides the results from Western Europe of a wider project (Envisaging the Future of Policing and Public Health Globally) for the Global Law Enforcement and Public Health Association (GLEPHA) which aimed to identify policing and public health alternative initiatives to provide community safety and well-being. A desktop review of projects that included evaluation evidence and/or impact of innovative delivery were selected for the study. The criteria allowed the inclusion of international, national, regional, and local initiatives that fit the broader aims of the global “envisaging the future” GLEPHA project. In total, 41 projects were reviewed with varying levels of information on approach and evaluation. Data capture recorded the country, location, funder details, themes (e.g., violence, mental health, drugs), key words, program descriptions, and any links and key findings from evaluation studies. A number of key themes, drivers, and challenges were identified in collaborative work between policing and public health. These included elements of communication and generating a shared language, the need for evaluation to be embedded in the project plan and mobilisation, and the problems with “hot-topic” issues and short-term funding. This paper also outlines two case studies of projects within Western Europe: Violence Reduction Units in the United Kingdom, and the Stockholm prevents Alcohol and Drug Problems (STAD). Key aspects of these projects are presented and the successes and potential challenges discussed. Key recommendations regarding the future of law enforcement and public health–related initiatives are discussed

The case for home monitoring in hypertension

Although the assessment of cardiovascular risk in individual patients takes into account a range of risk factors, the diagnosis and management of hypertension (high blood pressure) is largely determined by a single numerical value, albeit that often several readings are taken over time. Given the critical impact of a decision to embark on lifelong drug therapy, the importance of ensuring that a blood pressure (BP) record is both accurate and representative is clear. However, there is good evidence that the variability of BP is such that even if measurement is of the highest quality, it can be difficult to say with confidence whether a patient is above or below a treatment threshold. This commentary argues that current BP measurement is inadequate to make the clinical decisions that are necessary and that multiple readings are required to deliver an acceptable degree of accuracy for safe decision-making. This is impractical in a doctor's surgery, and the only realistic long-term strategy is to involve the patient in measuring his or her own BP in their own environment. Evidence is presented that such a strategy is better able to predict risk, is cost-effective for diagnosing hypertension, can improve BP control and is thus better able to protect individuals in the future