Citation

Krone T. Trends Iss. Crime Crim. Justice 2005; 296.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, Australian Institute of Criminology)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Crime victimisation surveys have emerged over the past few decades as an important research tool to help provide a picture of crime that is independent of police statistics. In 2004 the Australian Institute of Criminology managed the Australian component of the International Crime Victim Survey (ICVS) which interviewed 7,000 people about their experience and perceptions of crime and the criminal justice system. Five cycles of the ICVS have been conducted - 1989, 1992, 1996, 2000 and 2004 - and Australia participated in all but the 1996 cycle. This report summarises the key results of the Australian component of the 2004 ICVS, noting that both recent rates of crime victimisation and fear levels have declined since the last survey in 2000. The paper also includes important information on risk factors associated with victimisation, unreported crime and fear of crime that can inform future crime prevention and reduction activities across Australia.


Online child pornography is an unintended aspect of the widespread adoption of information and communications technologies. Child pornography involves the sexual abuse of children on a global basis. It appears that a once limited trade has seen remarkable growth, with the potential to intrude into the homes and workplaces of all those connected to the internet. Occasionally, exposure to this form of pornography may be unintended, but in most cases it is deliberately sought out, retained and traded worldwide. There have been many instances of law enforcement action, both locally and internationally, targeting those involved in the possession or distribution of online child pornography, some of which have involved thousands of suspects. This paper looks at 31 well-publicised operations and considers the law enforcement implications of these for future operations. The operations are discussed with reference to four distinct targets of investigation: individuals, covert groups, web site subscribers and those caught in police stings. The paper starts to fill a significant gap in our understanding of online child pornography.