Explainers

Sexual offences and offenders take many forms. In this Explainer, we explain some of the law around sexual offending.

In order to sexually harm or sexually abuse, offenders need to be able to access their victims. In this Explainer, we introduce some of the ways that might happen.

Sexual offending is often in the news, and we might feel it is an ever present danger. In this Explainer, we put sexual offending in perspective by going through some statistics.

In previous Explainers, we’ve talked a little about the risks of sexual offending. In this Explainer, we discuss some of the ways risks are managed in the community.

Many of us will have to deal with sex offenders in our work, whilst not being specialists in sex offender treatment. In this Explainer, we look at how day to day activities within our role can best support the wider principles of public protection and rehabilitation.

In previous Explainers, we’ve focused on offenders. In this Explainer, we think through some of the things that make people vulnerable.

As a type of sexual offending and sexual harm there has been increasing attention on Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) in recent years. This Explainer covers what this is, and dispels some myths.

People with cognitive impairments are at increased risk of both becoming victims of sexual harm or being accused of it. Sometimes the latter is due to disinhibited behaviour rather than any criminal intent and this Explainer helps understand and manage that distinction.

Sex workers are a group who are particularly vulnerable to sexual and non-sexual offending. This Explainer contextualises that risk and discusses harm reduction strategies.

In a previous Explainer, we explained that most offenders live within the community. In this Explainer, we discuss some of the ways in which they are managed.

Many of us will be responsible for running spaces or activities where children or vulnerable adults can be photographed, and these images shared on social media. This Explainer outlines some things we might want to think about to help us keep everyone safe.

Many of us work in very stressful jobs, often dealing day by day with very challenging service users or those with multiple, complex problems. This Explainer stresses the importance of looking after ourselves and our colleagues and starts to explore some of the issues organisations need to address in relation to staff care and professional standards.