Book Review: A. Gillespie, Child Exploitation and Communication Technologies, Russell House Publishing Ltd, Dorset, 2008, £19.95 Pb, ISBN 978—1-90554—123—2
| Author | Jo Bryce |
| Published date | 01 August 2009 |
| Date | 01 August 2009 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/14732254090090020602 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
Book Reviews 183
even than the current version. However, while serious training continues this book will deserve its
place on the reading list.
References
Gelsthorpe, L. and Morgan, R. (eds) (2007) Handbook of Probation. Cullompton: Willan Publishing.
Jones, A., Kroll, B., Pitts, J., Smith, P. and Weise, J. (1992) The Probation Handbook. Harlow: Longman.
King, J. F. S. (ed.) (1958) The Probation Service. London: Butterworth.
Le Mesurier, L. (1935) A Handbook of Probation, London: National Association of Probation Offi cers.
McGuire, J. (2004) Understanding Psychology and Crime, Maidenhead: Open University Press.
Monger, M. (1964) Casework in Probation, London: Butterworth.
Vanstone, M. (2004) Supervising Offenders in the Community: A History of Probation Theory and Practice.
Aldershot: Ashgate.
A. Gillespie, Child Exploitation and Communication Technologies, Russell House
Publishing Ltd, Dorset, 2008, £19.95 Pb, ISBN 978–1-90554–123–2.
Reviewed by: Dr Jo Bryce, Cyberspace Research Unit, School of Psychology,
University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK.
This book provides a comprehensive overview of the current legal framework covering the exploit-
ation of children and young people through the Internet and other communication technologies. It
is well-structured and well-written. It makes good use of examples, many from court cases, which
help to demonstrate the arguments advanced in the text. The book successfully demonstrates the
legal complexities of this area, and highlights key areas of debate. The main focus of the book is on
the sexual exploitation of children. It provides a comprehensive coverage of the legal framework and
complexities of child pornography and indecent images; grooming; child procurement; prostitution;
sentencing and ancillary sentencing issues. It ends by considering the challenges associated with new
technological developments, as well as those associated with attempting to identify the victims of
child pornography and indecent images. Each of the chapters provides a clear and accessible over-
view of the main defi nitions/terminology used, the relevant legal frameworks, and the associated
potential challenges or legal debates in applying the law. The chapters on sentencing and ancillary
sentencing issues provide a clear overview of the variety of sentences available to the court when
dealing with the offences covered in the preceding chapters, as well as mitigating and aggravating
factors etc.
The introductory chapter provides a useful overview of the various communications technologies
(for example, SMS, social networking, peer-2-peer) and online behaviours which potentially place
young people at risk from online sexual exploitation. It also draws attention to the emerging chal-
lenges associated with young people’s use of these technologies for sexual experimentation and con-
siders the extent to which the Sexual Offences Act (SOA) 2003 criminalizes such activity. Moreover
it highlights the worrying trends in cyber-bullying and self-exploitation, which are covered in
subsequent chapters of the book.
The chapter on cyber-bullying highlights the diffi culties of dealing with this form of online
behaviour, and potential legal frameworks that can be used to tackle offenders and protect victims.
The author draws on both criminal and civil law to outline the relevant offences and statutes, and
demonstrates the complexity of their use. This chapter will be of interest to a wide variety of stake-
holders and practitioners, particularly those involved in education and child protection in Local
Safeguarding Children’s Boards (LSCBs), given that there is less legal clarity over action which can
be taken against those involved in cyber-bullying.
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