A good thing too, you might say. But what is sexual grooming? Does anyone really know?
The phrase entered the language pretty fast. It seems to have been widely accepted by law-makers, campaigners and newspapers. Yet there is little clarity about what it actually means.
Two psychologists from Coventry University say there has been little research into what sexual grooming is.
The aim of the legislation is clear. As the Home Office explains, a sexual grooming offence will be complete when an offender meets a child or travels to a pre-arranged meeting with a child with the intent of committing a sexual offence against the child. The important thing is that planned sexual activity does not have to take place. And the offender still faces up to 10 years in jail. The evidence of sexual intent may be drawn from the communications between the adult and the child before the meeting.
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