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INTERPOL - International Child Sexual Exploitation Image Database (ICSEDB)

Sharing information and reducing duplicate investigations to better identify victims and abusers

The ICSEDB has been live and operational since the 9th March 2009 as a follow up to the ICAID database running since 2001. It was developed with funding provided by a number of INTERPOL member states following feasibility and implementation studies, undertaken between 2001 and 2005
The ultimate aim of the project is the prevention and detection of offences of sexual abuse against children through the identification of victims and abusers.

The International Child Sexual Exploitation Database is an INTERPOL database with the potential to be accessed directly by authorised and accredited users in all of the Organizations 187 member states. The objective of this project in particular is to provide specialised officers in a further 30 countries remote access to the system.

Each connection to the system will necessitate individual specialist units to be inspected and accredited. Users of the system will receive a minimum of 1 weeks training which will take place in their work environment.
User group workshops will be convened each year. As all users of the database will have the ability to add, move and amend images and data it is imperative that joint decisions are made on standard operation procedures, the identification of best practice and enhancements to the system by all stakeholders.

Another main objective of this project will be to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the ICSEDB through software enhancement and system features evolution will be implemented based on the recommendations derived of the user workshops.

Due to the global nature of the distribution of image and the necessity that specialised units investigating victim identification are operational in countries outside of Europe it is essential that this project is inclusive of as wide a participation as possible. Images of children from one continent or country are normally fist recovered in a different country or continent. For these reasons in addition to EU Member States, countries in the Americas, Africa, Asia and Australia will also be included in this project.

Having direct access to the database will increase the number of images available to investigators for analysis resulting in more victims being identified, a reduction in the number of duplicate investigations, a more focused approach on the most vulnerable victims and a greater sharing of information on unidentified victims and ongoing investigations around the world.

This project is entirely run by INTERPOL General Secretariat.

Funding

€ 500.000

Project start - end date (duration)

01/09/2009 - 31/08/2012 (36 months)

Web site

http://www.interpol.int/Public/Children/

Contact

Mr. Hamish McCulloch
INTERPOL
General Secretariat
200, quay Charles de Gaule
69006 Lyon – France
h.mcculloch@interpol.int