About offenders who sexually assault children

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Information about sexual offenders who sexually abuse children can help us to all be more aware. Offenders do not generally fit the stereotype of the "dirty old man hiding in the bushes", rather, they come from every race, class, age, colour, position and occupation. Most are male.

"There is nothing which would enable anyone, including the most clever experts, to distinguish a person who has sexual contact with children from anyone else - they become very clever at hiding their deviant impulses" (Glasser, The Australian newspaper, 23.3.96).

Without treatment, sex offending becomes a repetitive behaviour which frequently begins in early adolescence and ends only with the death or infirmity of the offender, and may involve several thousand victims (For example: see Slater, Predators, 2003).

Offenders mainly engage in a series of thoughts, feelings, beliefs and behaviours which include the targeting and grooming of potential victims, as well as planning of how to carry out an offence. Experts now believe that these paedophiles become incredibly skilled at choosing victims, as well as grooming the victims' family. Such are their skills, that it is not uncommon for paedophiles who are caught and charged to have family members of their victims rush to their defence, so strong is their belief in the offenders good character and innocence. Thus, successful grooming of parents through legitimate activities and so called common interests (this is questionable, the paedophile only shares these interests as part of a grooming strategy to gain access to the family) enables them to gain access to children without raising suspicion.

Offenders can be classified into sadistic and non sadistic (Salter 1995). Sadistic offenders have a shorter offending cycle and are more likely to abduct a child not known to them. Non-sadistic offenders will frequently place themselves in positions within families/schools/community groups where they have opportunities to offend. Children are much less likely to tell if the offender is someone they and their parents know because they may like/love/trust or feel sorry for the offender.

People often ask why offenders behave in the way they do. There are no simple answers because although their methods are remarkably similar their reasons are not. Some offenders have been victims of childhood abuse themselves but they are no more likely to have been victims than anyone else in the community. Very few are mentally ill or 'sick' and many have 'normal' sexual and emotional relationships with adults. They make a choice to sexually assault. Many offenders see themselves as heterosexual including those who assault boys. Homosexual men are no more likely to sexually offend than anyone else. It is the fact that their victims are children that attracts offenders. It is the power they can wield over smaller vulnerable people that is their incentive.

The single most crucial component of child sexual assault is keeping the victim silent and ensuring the secrecy. Generally, there is a high level of secrecy around the sexual assault and abuse of children. Children who are sexually abused often keep the secret for decades, which may lead to high levels of guilt and shame, as they may have a misplaced sense of blame. The single most significant thing that we can do to educate and prevent the sexual assault of children is to directly tackle this secrecy with children and young people and expose the tactics that enable offenders to offend.

If we break down the secrecy, including the taboo of informing children of the danger, then we provide children with knowledge and the most powerful weapon of all - the ability to TELL.

We can work towards the prevention of paedophilia and sexual abuse through the provision of information and education - both to children and their caregivers. Children must have the knowledge and skills to recognize their right to be safe and how to achieve this. If children are unaware of basic information about sex and sexuality, particularly in regards to healthy versus unhealthy sexuality (and paedophilia/sexual assault IS unhealthy sexuality), then they are at increased risk of vulnerability to sexual predators and offenders.

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