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Inform Plus is a 11-session programme devised by the Lucy Faithfull Foundation (LFF) for adults arrested, cautioned or convicted of internet offences relating to child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

The programme aims to help explore offending behaviour in a structured, supportive environment. Find more information about Inform Plus here.

Circles South West (CSW) were commissioned by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) for Devon and Cornwall in 2020 to provide a number of programmes for men convicted of CSAM related offences, who were being managed solely by the police MOSOVOs. The participants had finished all statutory involvement with probation, but were causing concern to the police because of use of excessive legal pornography, high levels of sexual preoccupation and/or inappropriate sexual thoughts and feelings.  Participation in the programme was voluntary.

Despite the delays arising from the COVID-19 pandemic and fewer than expected referrals from the police, we delivered four programmes in Camborne, Exeter and Plymouth and 20 men completed all 11 sessions between October 2020 and March 2023.

This cohort were towards the end of their involvement with the criminal justice system and the programme was therefore adjusted to better suit their needs meaning more of a focus on pornography, safe internet use and general sexual matters.

To evaluate the effectiveness of the programme, Research in Practice (RiP) and CSW worked together to develop a set of questionnaires for participants to complete during and after the course. They included a Good Lives Model (GLM) questionnaire, IBAQ (modified) UCLA (shortened) and participant evaluation forms.

The questionnaires were designed to capture how participants changed as a result of the course with respect to protective and risk factors for internet reoffending and were completed at the start and end of the course as well as 3-month follow-up. Qualitative comments were also gathered on participant progress from the individuals as well as facilitators and referrers.

Conclusions

RiP found participants showed a reduced risk of sexual reoffending, measured in improvements to protective factors and the mitigation of risk factors for criminal internet behaviours. Changes, found to be statistically significant, for three of the six tools used. Participants and professionals noticed positive changes in sociability, relationships, work life, and emotional well-being.

Qualitative reflections on participant progress in each GLM domain were provided by the participant, facilitators and referrers.

• Participants had found or applied for new work, developed a better attitude with colleagues, or improved their productivity at work. Some participants had achieved a greater life balance, improved relationships and a better ability to empathise. Others found new work where their skills could grow or had put their finances in order.
• References to greater participant happiness, self-control and calmness; exercising more and feeling benefits to their well-being; and a new awareness for how to apply the principles of GLM when needed. However, other participants experienced worsening depression and intense feelings of guilt or stress due to past convictions or current investigations.
• Some participants described the value of the course in helping them to understand their offending and preventing them from repeating criminal behaviours.
• Stakeholders noted improvements in participants’ sociability with colleagues and neighbours, as well as meeting new people. A small minority of comments expressed the need for greater social engagement.
• One participant was developing an interest in gardening, another was focusing on learning through YouTube, and yet another had become more aware of their triggers for offending.

It was worthy of note that the attrition rate for participation was low with only three men out of 23 starters failing to complete all the sessions for reasons other than lack of motivation, having either moved out of the area or their work patterns changed and they could no longer attend. Facilitators reported that engagement with the material was high and the general consensus from the men was that the sessions provided an important ‘safe’ and rare space for the participants to discuss issues such as pornography use, the compulsive nature of the internet, sexual problems, relationship difficulties and family dynamics, guilt and shame. Because the programme was strength-based and desistance focused, we were able to acknowledge and ‘celebrate’ achievements and progress that the men had made in their lives since their convictions, whilst ‘working’ on their current inappropriate or difficult behaviour.

Although involving a relatively small number of participants, this evidence supports the use of Inform Plus as part of a restorative approach to reducing the risk of internet sexual offending, especially for those men who are not receiving statutory probation supervision.

(Due to the small sample sizes obtained for this study, caution is advised in interpreting the results).