New ARC Linkage Grant to improve victim identification capabilities

University of Adelaide researchers Associate Professor Russell Brewer, Dr Katie Logos, and Warren Bulmer are leading a team that was recently awarded an Australian Research Council Linkage grant.

This important four-year project will develop and implement new analytical methods to both identify and facilitate the rescue of victims of child sexual abuse. It will be delivered in partnership with South Australia Police, the International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (Australia), and academic collaborators from Deakin University and San Jose State University.

The project will apply innovative methodological and analytical approaches to police data to generate deeper insights into child sexual abuse victimisation—specifically, identifying who is being victimised, who is at greatest risk of repeat victimisation, and when and where these incidents are occurring. These enhanced victim identification capabilities will be realised through the deployment of a custom-built digital forensics platform developed by the research team, and which will become integrated within law enforcement operations with the support from project partners. 

"We are all incredibly excited about this joint-research venture, and anticipate that project outputs will have significant practical utility for police as they continue to tackle this pernicious crime type" said Associate Professor Brewer. 

Detective Chief Inspector George Fenwick, from South Australia Police’s Special Crime Investigation Section has called this project “revolutionary”.

“It allows the cutting-edge work being undertaken by the project team, in collaboration with South Australia Police and key stakeholders, to deliver greater investigative capabilities which will result in children being rescued from harm,” Detective Chief Inspector Fenwick said.

“Our Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team’s (JACET) goal is to save children, wherever they live, and ensure anyone who harms or facilitates harm to them through the sharing of child exploitation material is identified and brought before the courts. Improving victim identification capabilities will be valuable in achieving this vitally important goal.” 

The project team and partners include: Associate Professor Russell Brewer and Dr Katie Logos (School of Social Sciences, University of Adelaide), Professor David Bright (Deakin University); Associate Professor Bryce Westlake (San Jose State University); Mr Warren Bulmer (International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children, Australia, and School of Social Sciences, University of Adelaide) and South Australia Police. 

The project will run from 2025 – 2029.