ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on how it is possible for criminal offences against the person to take place on the internet. However, it is also possible to consider other ways that harm can be caused to those who use the internet. With the omission of cyber-harassment from international law one can move straight on to domestic law. The second form of behaviour to consider relates to the sexual solicitation of a child. The internet provides new opportunities for sex crimes to occur, both facilitating contact offences and crimes that take place almost exclusively online. Whilst there are numerous examples of how this occurs, this chapter will consider one form of sexual abuse, that known as the grooming or solicitation of children. The internet brought about new opportunities for offenders to meet children. The internet thus provided an available means by which children could be contacted through chatrooms, and social networking sites.
