Dr Lizzie Jones is a senior social researcher within the Children’s Commissioner for England’s Research team. In this role, Lizzie is involved in data analysis, the designing and commissioning of surveys and ensuring that children’s voices are at the heart of the CCo’s work by conducting interviews and focus groups with young people.

Louise Barraclough

Louise Barraclough is the Lead Nurse for Devon & Cornwall Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARC). Her specialist interests and research focus on all forms of violence against women and children; particularly sexual violence and exploitation, root causes of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) and the current strategic frameworks and legislation that determine (and sometimes restrict) systemic and agency responses.

In this research she looked at the potential relationship between easily available online adult pornography and harmful sexual behaviour in children and young people. A consistently significant proportion of children and young people referred into the SARC have been subjected to sexual abuse by another child or young person. Using a broad definition of harmful sexual behaviour and drawing on what is known about mainstream, online and easily available adult pornography, the question was explored from the perspective of both those who have harmed others and those who have been harmed.

The study raised important questions about pornography as a public health and child protection issue, systemic and agency responses, thresholds for interventions, assessment tools, the socio-sexual and pornography-soaked context that children and young people are navigating, and the level of harm caused.