Is there more that can be done to prevent CSA?

[AnotherNC12345]

Just want to prefix this by saying it is a horrendous crime. And one I wish didn’t exist at any level. And one that is 100% a crime and it deserves a harsh sentence.

The sheer amount of cases you see in the media opened my eyes to just how big of a problem this is. There was a thread a while back that asked about something like ‘do you know anyone that was sacked from the job for committing a crime’ and the amount of replies that stated it was for possession or the act itself was crazy - this came from regular MN users. The NSPCC suggests 1 in 20 children have been SA (and I’m sure this will exclude a vast majority that were too little to remember). It makes me feel that this isn’t an opportunistic crime like theft, there is something in the wiring of these (mostly) men that needs to be addressed.

AIBU to feel that more needs to be done to study the backgrounds and MH symptoms of those convicted to better understand what leads to this? So that services can step in at earlier stages to prevent it going this far? And who knows, this could even extend to DV. The longterm effects this has on people in society, from the victims to the families and communities is devastating. Saying it’s wrong and immoral just simply isn’t enough.

Yes, rehabilitation, therapy and support for the offenders. You stop one abuser, you prevent many, many victims.

But people hate to see money being spent this way and would rather support survivors.

Can you imagine the headlines if they start spending money on rehabilitating offenders?

It is such a shame that more cannot see the sense in this!

I don't think there is any kind of background or mental health issue that predicts someone will be a sex offender - if only it were that simple! Many may have been sexually abused themselves - but you can't label everyone that's been abused as a potential sex offender!

I also don't think that any rehabilitation or therapy has been shown to have much effect - I mean look at one of the boys that killed James Bulger, he would have had all sorts of rehab and support as a child and he still went on to get caught looking at CSA online, and I think more than once.

IMO the one thing that works more than any other for paedophiles is chemical castration, it's not 100% because you can still sexually abuse children in other ways, but I'm pretty sure that older studies from I think Denmark showed it to be very successful. The lack of desire to have sex led to a lack of desire to sexually abuse.

Honestly? Don’t let your kids go to sleepovers with other adults/ siblings. Don’t introduce your kids to partners for a long long time and even then, be very wary? Don't trust any other adults? Nightmare really but even some of the above might help some poor child.

And be all over your kids arrangements/ who they are with so they don’t appear vulnerable to predators.

BBC home page - services proven to reduce problem have lost their funding

Totally. But then we’re just pushing the responsibility on to the victims / families and that doesn’t sit right either. A lot of CSA happens within own family units. There was a thread the other day about someone’s husband being arrested and the police seized hundreds of images. The wife had no clue.

Chemical castration works if the driving factor is a sexual preoccupation or arousal to children. This is not always or even typically the case, there a myriad of research proven factors that underpin this type of offending and sexual interest is just one. The research already exists to tell us the risk factors, but unfortunately no tool exists to predict sexual offending risk in individuals who have not already been convicted. I agree something needs doing but I'm not entirely sure what. Certainly better rehabilitation for those already convicted (but reoffending rates after conviction for this population are actually fairly low). Unsure what can be done before that point. I'd imagine something around allegations actually being taken forward into court, rather than allowing multiple reports about the same individuals to go unaddressed and leaving them free to offend again. For those that would voluntarily disclose a sexual interest pre offending then perhaps chemical castration or preventative therapy- but honestly we don't even adequately fund work for those who have been convicted, let alone those who haven't yet. The Lucy faithful foundation is a good start.

@Tam285 but castration would only then be an option once the crime was uncovered and someone was convicted.

Yes that’s what I mean. It is in our homes and done by those we invite in and those who make themselves dependable. Who really wants to deal with other people’s kids? It’s done by other kids. I think this level of awareness needs to bring the sickness into the open so people know the evil they’re dealing with. I think there should be public health campaigns on abuse and the prevention of. It ruins lives for generations.