Specialist Crime

Child Abuse Imagery Information Line

What is child abuse imagery and what are the effects?

It is intrinsically related to the sexual abuse of children…

First, the materials produced are a permanent record of the children's exploitation and their circulation exacerbates the harm to the child.

Second, the distribution network for child abuse imagery must be closed if the production of material which sexually exploits children is to be effectively controlled.

Today in the United Kingdom, commercially produced child abuse imagery is no longer legally available, but the problem remains and has become more subtle, covert and organised. Paedophiles and those who deal in child abuse imagery throughout the UK and overseas now distribute and exchange this illicit material, much of which is 'home-made', through the postal system, private courier firms and more recently by computer. This new technology allows for the electronic transfer of picture quality images to anywhere in the world at the touch of a button.

Who are paedophiles?

Paedophiles are individuals with a preferred sexual interest in children, and they are the primary producers, distributors and users of this insidious material.

The primary reasons why paedophiles produce, use and collect child pornography are:

• For their own sexual arousal and gratification.
• To lower the inhibitions of their child victims.
• As 'blackmail' to ensure that the child does not tell the 'secret' of the activity that he or she is being forced to endure.
• To preserve the child's 'youth' by maintaining a pictorial record of the child's appearance at the 'desirable' age even after he or she has grown older and matured.
• As a medium of exchange with other paedophiles to enlarge their child abuse imagery collection and to gain access to other children.

As a result of your telephone call to the Metropolitan Police Service Child Abuse Imagery Information Line, the police and other agencies will launch an investigation into the alleged sexual abuse and exploitation. The telephone number is 020 7161 3871. In an emergency, you should phone 999

The Metropolitan Police Service through the Child Abuse Investigation Command remain committed to pursuing those individuals who break the law under the Protection of Children Act 1978.

You can also report indecent images of children online via the Internet Watch Foundation.