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Sex Offenders and Grooming

NetSafe has developed important education about the grooming of children by sexual offenders, and potential offenders. To be effective in protecting children, this education must inform young people, parents and others responsible for the safety of children, about grooming. This includes how to define grooming, how to recognise it and how to respond when confronted with it online. This education must also address the offenders themselves, encouraging them to seek help from recognized treatment providers if they cannot stop the grooming behaviour on their own.

What is grooming?

Grooming is when a person tries to ‘set up’ and ‘prepare’ another person to be the victim of sexual abuse. Although not all sexual-abuse is preceded by grooming, it is a very common and deceitful process, which can be used by strangers or by those known to the victim. The method can take quite a while (even months and years), and can be very subtle and sneaky. Victims of grooming often do not realise that they are being manipulated until after they have been sexually abused, and even then, some victims do not see how the grooming led to their abuse.

In the offline world, groomers use many techniques to prepare their victims, such as;

  • giving inappropriate attention to children,
  • giving gifts,
  • manipulating a child through threats or coercion
  • openly or accidentally exposing the victim to nudity and sexual material
  • sexualising physical contact, such as inappropriate tickling and wrestling,
  • having an inappropriate and intrusive interest into children’s physical and sexual development,
  • having inappropriate social boundaries (e.g., telling the potential victims about their own personal problems etc).

And other exploitative strategies the groomer can use and adapt to the individual child they have targeted.

For more information either call NetSafe toll-free on 0508 638 723 or email queries@netsafe.org.nz

What to do if you think someone you know might be grooming online

This can be a very difficult situation. A good first step to take would be to contact NetSafe to discuss what is happening. Remember, if you feel that anyone is in imminent physical danger you should call the police as soon as possible.

 
   


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