Latest from Jocelyn Anderson, CEO, West Mercia Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Centre (WMRSASC).
Over the last few days, I have been watching the reporting on the Huw Edwards case both on the news and in the papers. Most of the reporting has used the phrase ‘indecent images of children’ rather than the wholly inappropriate ‘child pornography’ and highlights that many of the images were category A. But what does any of that mean? The phrase ‘indecent image’ is not just a risqué glimpse of a Victorian ankle, it is a vile abuse of children. The wording does not convey the level of abuse that Edwards was watching. Category A pictures whether video clips or still pictures show the penetrative abuse of children – in other words the rape of children – some of the images on Edwards’ phone involved children as young as seven to nine years of age.
Just because he was not in the room himself does not mean that these are victimless crimes, someone, somewhere is making these images and children are being raped and abused.
People report being ‘shocked’ and ‘duped’ by Edwards into making them think that he was a ‘good guy’ but that’s the thing – sexual offenders hide in plain sight – rarely do they look like the stereotypical dirty old man in a raincoat. Abuse often goes hand in hand with power – whether that is financial, status or simply by being a parent or having access to children. Edwards had money and a high profile; he had power.
I dare say that as the trial begins, the usual suspects and excuses for Edwards’ motivation will make an appearance; poor mental health, depression, relationship issues, lonely, highly pressurised job, etc, etc. There will be testimonies of his previously ‘good’ character and how this is just a mistake. We have heard it all before.
However, the simple fact of the matter is that these images are bought by people like Edwards because they want to, and they can.
My thoughts are with the children who have been abused and will have had their images shared countless times, possibly for the whole of their life, never knowing if the person they have just met has already watched them online. I hope they can survive and recover from what has been done to them.
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