Directory Launch: services supporting family and friends of people arrested for online sexual offending
In 2021, there were over 850 arrests across the UK for accessing child sexual abuse material every single month. Many of those arrested will have children of their own or contact with children in their wider family. Indeed, compared with those convicted of other forms of sexual offending, research suggests people who access child sexual abuse material are more likely to be married and have children. It is very rare that anyone would be aware of a person’s offending behaviour, before it comes to the attention of the police.
So, for partners and children of those who have accessed child sexual abuse material they are often left traumatised; by the shock what a partner/parent has done, but also in what to do next and how to find support. Receiving support for the psychological and practical repercussions of such a discovery are important for all of those in the home.
Families need help to make sense of such shocking news. They need support to manage the stigma around this form of harm and also with the practical implications: employment/finances, housing and managing the statutory services involved.
To support these families, we are proud to have been involved with child protection organisations and law enforcement agencies – including the NWG Network, Lucy Faithfull Foundation, Centre for expertise on child sexual abuse, Marie Collins Foundation and the National Police Chief’s Council – to produce an easy access service directory to help partners or family members of those who have been arrested for accessing child sexual abuse material find support and information.
As some family members may want to also find services for the person who has offended, it includes details of services for those who have accessed child sexual abuse material.
If you are working with a family needing support, or you need support yourself, the list of Services Supporting Indirect Victims of Child Sexual Abuse Material Offending can be found in the new directory at this link below.
Directory produced by the National Strategic Group for Indirect Victims of Indecent Images of Children Investigations, launched on 28th February 2024.
