Are paedophiles generally lone offenders or do they operate within organised networks? This question is controversial.

You will recall the ‘Stranger Danger” epithet of past decades characterising child sex abusers as lone monsters predating random victims.  We now know that in fact most victims will be very familiar with their abuser. 

Research shows that most true paedophiles will seek to associate with others sharing their proclivities, as it advantages their offending:

• It helps them justify/ normalise their abuse of children
• It allows the sharing of grooming techniques
• And most significantly, it facilitates access to children through victim-sharing

So, with research evidence supporting the existence of organised CSA networks why do we not see more revealed and ‘busted’, so to speak?

In Tasmania we see ongoing reluctance in law enforcement agencies to actively consider the existence of paedophile rings.  Surely, with each perpetrator charged we also have the opportunity to consider the likelihood that we have a member of a a wider network.

The ‘Lone Wolf’ construct is politically convenient, and offers false reassurances to a community that would prefer to think of CSA as a criminal aberration, rather than something entrenched and widespread.

Conversation starters?

1. Are paedophile rings real, or a conspiracy theory?
2. What kind of resources might law enforcement need to investigate organised CSA networks?