The distinction between discipline, punishment, indecent treatment and the violation of a child’s dignity is extremely important, particularly when dealing with children under 16. An adult may believe they are disciplining a child, but their behaviour can cross a boundary into humiliation, degradation, sexual impropriety or abuse. 1. Understanding the boundaries Behaviour What it means Appropriate discipline… Read More Safeguarding
Sexually inappropriate behaviour includes unwanted sexual words, gestures, contact, attention or pressure that cause discomfort, embarrassment, intimidation or insecurity. It may occur in person or online, with or without physical contact. Examples include touching, sexual comments, unsolicited messages, persistent advances, coercion and ignoring boundaries. Consent, respect and personal boundaries must always be upheld.… Read More Examples of sexually inappropriate behaviour
An essential guide for parents, families and anyone concerned about a child’s safety. Understanding the warning signs, recognising grooming and knowing where to seek help can make a life-changing difference. Child sexual abuse is not always obvious. It does not always involve physical violence, strangers or situations that immediately raise suspicion. Sometimes the person responsible… Read More Protecting Children: Recognising the Signs of Sexual Abuse, Grooming and Online Exploitation
The respectable identity an adult presents to society does not necessarily reveal their private behaviour. Understanding grooming, boundary violations, secrecy and patterns of inappropriate conduct can help protect children before abuse escalates. One of the most difficult aspects of child sexual abuse is that perpetrators do not necessarily look, behave or present themselves in ways… Read More Behind Closed Doors: Recognising the Warning Signs of Child Sexual Abuse and Hidden Offending
Not all child sexual abuse involves physical contact. Some offenders derive sexual gratification from secretly watching, observing, recording or obtaining access to images of children in private or intimate situations. These behaviours are particularly disturbing because the child may have absolutely no knowledge that they are being watched or exploited. A child might believe they… Read More The Hidden Offender: Voyeurism, Secret Observation and Sexual Exploitation of Children
Behind the stories of abducted and exploited children lies another, often less visible story: the secrecy that enables offenders to operate, the silence imposed on victims, and the uncomfortable reality that some perpetrators remain hidden in plain sight. The story of Sally Horner, the young American girl whose kidnapping became associated with Vladimir Nabokov’s novel… Read More The Children Nobody Spoke About: The Secrecy, Silence and Concealment Surrounding Child Sexual Abuse
Understanding how prolonged patterns of domination, entitlement and violence can develop into extreme danger. There is an important distinction between an isolated act of violence and a pattern of behaviour in which intimidation, coercion, humiliation and control become increasingly established. In some cases of domestic homicide, the killing is not an entirely unexpected event or… Read More When Cruelty Escalates: The Psychology of Lethal Violence, Coercive Control and the Erosion of Empathy
The threat is no longer simply an allegation. A court has already recognised it as a criminal offence. There is a profound difference between reporting a death threat and living with the knowledge that the person who threatened you has already been criminally convicted for doing so. For survivors of domestic abuse, that distinction matters.… Read More When Your Abuser Has Already Been Convicted of Threatening to Kill You
The article emphasizes that the expiration of a restraining order does not equate to the end of risk for domestic abuse survivors. It advises women in this situation to proactively assess their safety, document breaches, and seek legal guidance for ongoing protection. Emotional healing requires both legal and therapeutic support for rebuilding lives free from fear.… Read More When a Restraining Order Is Not Enough: Seeking Continued Protection After Domestic Abuse in Spain
Spain’s official VioGén system — English explanation describes a police risk-assessment process, not a simple public checklist. VioGen +1 The process is broadly: Information is gathered: the police interview the victim and consider available evidence, previous incidents, witness accounts and relevant records. Risk factors are entered: the officer completes the relevant police risk-assessment questionnaire. The system calculates a proposed risk level: its statistical model assesses the combined information. The officer reviews the result: the responsible officer can raise the proposed level when circumstances warrant greater protection. Protection and monitoring are arranged: the risk level informs the response, and reassessment can take place as new information emerges. VioGén+1 2. What is the actual score? The system uses weighted risk indicators and a statistical model, but the official public information does not provide a complete, current scoring table showing every question, its numerical points and the cut-off scores for each risk category. I therefore cannot reliably give you an official points calculator or say, for example, that a certain number of points automatically means Alto or Extremo. VioGén Research on earlier versions of VioGén describes the underlying principle: risk indicators receive different weights, the model combines them, and thresholds map the resulting score to a risk level. Those historical details should not be assumed to be the exact scoring rules in the current VioGén 2 system. journals.copmadrid.org 3. The four current risk levels Spanish English What it means in general Bajo Low Lower assessed risk, but not zero risk Medio Medium Significant risk requiring appropriate protective measures Alto High Elevated risk requiring strengthened protection Extremo Extreme Highest standard VioGén risk category, requiring the strongest applicable protective response VioGén 2 introduced these four levels in the 2025 protocol, removing the previous No Apreciado category. Ministry of the Interior
