Developing quality standards for community-based online child sexual exploitation and abuse interventions

Engelmann, L. and Weirich, C.A. and May-Chahal, C. (2025) Developing quality standards for community-based online child sexual exploitation and abuse interventions. Child Abuse and Neglect, 164: 107444. ISSN 0145-2134

Abstract

Background Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (OCSEA) is also an offline problem. OCSEA continues to overwhelm law enforcement, but limited evidence to support effective prevention strategies signals the need for urgent action. Quality standards offer an approach to support measurable community prevention efforts. Objectives To understand how police, partner agencies, parents and children address OCSEA. Based on co-produced priorities, develop the first quality standards framework and approach aimed at preventing OCSEA offline, within local communities. Participants and setting Researchers engaged with over sixty people in one English Local Authority, including children (6–18 years old), parents, social workers, police, educators, council staff, youth workers, and health professionals. Methods The study employed a locality-based mixed-methods design. A rapid appraisal of local policy and practice was conducted through desk research and an analysis of police case files (N = 185), in addition to interviews (n = 18), focus groups (n = 11), and observations (n = 2). Co-production workshops created priorities which formed the foundation for quality standards. Results A whole system approach empowers communities to take charge of a problem that cannot be addressed in isolation by police or online services. Inconsistent responses and OCSEA committed by children present a significant challenge to practitioners, children and parents. The voice of children and parents needs strengthening. Eleven response priorities and six quality standards were co-produced. Conclusions This work presents novel research into the development of quality standards to prevent and address OCSEA. It provides a blueprint for possible transfer and adaptation to other localities both within and beyond the UK.