By Corinne May-Chahal, Lancaster University; Professor Adam Crawford, Universities of Leeds and York; Dr Christine A Weirich, University of Leeds; Dr Larissa Engelmann

The aim of this two-year project was to take a place-based and problem-oriented approach to understand and improve offline responses to OCSEA.

The project commenced in May 2022 with a pilot study in one local authority area, using a mixed-methods approach involving a rapid appraisal, co-production, and a police case file analysis. A wide range of local stakeholders co-designed 11 priorities that have formed the basis of shared quality standards to improve responses to OCSEA locally.

Local action groups (representing local services and young people) were tasked with co-creating these standards. Implementation of shared priorities is complex and ongoing but the passion and interest of young people, parents and services to address OCSEA is loud and clear.

Community practitioners struggle to respond to online child sexual exploitation and abuse (OCSEA) victimisation due to its volume, complexity and the lack of relevant evidence-informed guidance and training.

Police reactions to peer-on-peer abuse can influence the extent to which enforcement, social care or educational approaches dominate local responses. Holistic and multi-agency informed practices are needed to combat the problem.

There needs to be meaningful engagement with children and parents when delivering community-based responses to OCSEA.

Empowering communities to tackle OCSEA requires collaboration to agree local priorities and co-produce quality response standards

University of Leeds, The Vulnerability & Policing Futures Research Centre , 2024. 4p.