Child Sexual Exploitation – CEPOL - Expert Interview - UK

Q1

What have you learnt from participants in this training activity?

Q2

Q3

Q4

Why is international training in the area of Child Sexual Exploitation important for law enforcement officials?

Tell us about a “wow” moment from this training activity.

Can you share with us some concrete benefits of this training activity for you as a trainer?

Q5

What would you suggest to participants as next step in terms of learning and development in this area?

Michael Sheath, United KingdomExpert trainer in combatting Child Sexual Exploitation

It's well established that this crime type knows no borders, and that offenders cooperate across networks, regardless of their nationality, ethnicity and beliefs. Law enforcement and NGOs must do the same, or we will be out thought and out gunned forever.

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Michael Sheath, United KingdomExpert trainer in combatting Child Sexual Exploitation

The online environment is so fast moving that it tends to be police officers in the front line, in practice, who see the evolution of the problem. As a trainer, it's vital that I understand those trends and problems, so that I can address the students' needs as they evolve. In addition, a trainer learns from other trainers; I'm always humbled by the depth of knowledge and personal commitment of my colleagues.

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Michael Sheath, United KingdomExpert trainer in combatting Child Sexual Exploitation

During the CEPOL training activity on strategies in tracing child sex offenders all of us who participated had the opportunity to watch the documentary 'The children in the Pictures' (https://www.childreninthepictures.org/). It is terrifying because it sets out the accelerating scale of the problem, but it is also encouraging since it shows what good people can achieve when they have the opportunity and tools to achieve it.

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Michael Sheath, United KingdomExpert trainer in combatting Child Sexual Exploitation

That they share the same passion and ambition, to protect the vulnerable and challenge the assumption that the fight against CSAM (Child Sexual Abuse Material) distribution is a lost cause.

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Michael Sheath, United KingdomExpert trainer in combatting Child Sexual Exploitation

Read. Read research by academics from as diverse a pool as you can: criminologists, social commentators, psychologists and creatives.

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