'Why Don't You Block Them?': Police Officers' Constructions of the Ideal Victim When Responding to Reports of Interpersonal Cybercrime

Alex Black*, Karen Lumsden, Lee Hadlington

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter (peer-reviewed)peer-review

Abstract

This chapter explores police officers’ responses to reports of interpersonal cybercrime by considering their construction of the ‘ideal victim’. It contributes to knowledge on police officers’ perceptions of cybercrime and their support for victims. The discussion draws on Nils Christie’s (1986) concept of the ‘ideal victim’ to explore which individuals police officers most readily give the legitimate status of victim to. Three themes are discussed including: police officers’ constructions of the ‘ideal victim’; their attitudes towards victims in relation to prevention of cybercrime (i.e. ‘block them’) and; negotiations over responsibility for dealing with the emerging issue of cybercrime. The chapter argues that police forces must advance beyond an approach which entails victim-blaming and instead recognise the centrality of social media and online spaces in individuals’ lives.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationOnline Othering
Subtitle of host publicationExploring Digital Violence and Discrimination on the Web
EditorsK Lumsden, E Harmer
Place of PublicationBasingstoke
PublisherPalgrave
Pages355-378
Number of pages24
ISBN (Electronic)978-3-030-12633-9
ISBN (Print)978-3-030-12632-2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2019
Externally publishedYes
EventSymposium on Online Othering - Leicestershire
Duration: 21 Apr 201721 Apr 2017

Publication series

NamePalgrave Studies in Cybercrime and Cybersecurity
PublisherPALGRAVE

Conference

ConferenceSymposium on Online Othering
CityLeicestershire
Period21/04/1721/04/17

Keywords

  • cybercrime
  • internet
  • Online Abuse
  • Policing
  • social media
  • Victim

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