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      Miss Elena Martellozzo

      BSc, MSc, PhD, SFHEA
      ROLE: Associate Professor of Criminology
      SCHOOL: Law
      DEPARTMENT: Criminology & Sociology
      TELEPHONE: +44 (0)20 8411 5269
      EMAIL: E.Martellozzo@mdx.ac.uk
      1. Biography &
        Qualifications
      2. Learning &
        Teaching Interests
      3. Research Outputs &
        Interests
      4. Funded Research &
        Knowledge Exchange Projects
      5. Engagement &
        Impact

      • Biography &
        Qualifications

        Dr. Elena Martellozzo is a criminologist and a senior lecturer. She is the Programme Leader for the BA Criminology and Lectures on subject’s related to Victimisation and Cybercrime. When Elena lectures she bings into the classroom her research experience which includes: exploring children and young people’s online behaviour, the analysis of sexual grooming and police practice in the area of child sexual abuse, online risks and victimisation.

        In an innovative and collaborative partnership between operational policing and academic research, the first of its kind, Elena embedded herself into the newly formed London Metropolitan Police’s Paedophile and High Tech Crime Unit (2003-2009). She was given unprecedented access to documents, staff, and facilities enabling her to view and understand online predators in their ‘natural environment’. More recently (2016), she co-led a piece of research on behalf of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) and Office of the he Office of the Children's Commissioner (OCC) on the impact online pornography may have on young people.

        Elena is co-led a research project for the Internet Watch Foundation, evaluating key performance indicators and desired outcomes in safeguarding cyberspace from illegal content by the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF). Specifically, the research explores the links between the IWFs primary provisions, including Notice and Takedown (NTD) requests; the management and evolution of a URL black list; and IWFs effectiveness in and the provision of support to multi-stakeholders in securing and implementing a safe cyberspace. She is currently co-leading a large project funded by the Centre of expertise on child sexual abuse.

        The findings of her research inform her teaching, police and other agencies strategy and practice both in Italy and the UK. Elena develops and delivers training programmes for Prometeo (www.associazioneprometeo.org), an Italian leading charity who supports victims of sexual abuse, and police officers working in child protection. She works closely with the media and provides regular experts advice to a number of key agencies.

        Her work is summarised here: Research impact: Case study

        In 2016 Elena received the award of ‘young Italian Talent in the Untied Kingdom’ by the Italian Chamber of Commerce and Italian Embassy in the United Kingdom https://www.mdx.ac.uk/news/2016/11/criminology-lecturer-receives-international-award-for-inspiring-work

        Qualifications

        BSc (Hon), MSc, PhD, SFHEA


        Languages Spoken

        English, Italian, Spanish

      • Learning &
        Teaching Interests

        PhD Supervision:

        Dr Elena Martellozzo is interested in supervising PhDs in any of her specialist areas (child sexual abuse, online grooming, policing and victimology) and welcomes informal enquiries from potential doctoral students.

        PhD Students:

        Dr Mary Aiken (Completed in 2016) A Content Analysis Approach to the Investigation, Comprehension and Prevention of Cyber Sexualised Behaviour in Children and Adolescents. Co Supervised with Prof Julia Davidson

        Dr Andy Monaghan (Completed in 2017) Self-Generated Images in Online Pornography. Co Supervised with Prof. Vincenzo Ruggiero

        Waleid Alantali (Completed in 2018) Strengthening e-crime legislation in the UAE. Co Supervised with Prof Julia Davidson and Renu Barton-Hanson

        Sam Jenkins (Ongoing) A critical evaluation of the justifications for the criminalization of virtual child pornography. Co-supervised with Prof Julia Davidson

        Nicola Coleman (Ongoing) A Critical exploration of the Relationship between Family structure, Family Functioning and Youth Offending. Co-supervised with Dr David Porteous and Dr Carly Guest

        Membership of Professional Bodies and Learned Societies:

        2019 Senior Fellow of the Higher Academy Society (Ref: REF PR161124)

        2019-ongoing Member of Advisory group for policing online child sexual exploitation and abuse project. The Police Foundation;

        2018-ongoing Member of the Council for At-Risk Academics (CARA);

        2012- ongoing Member of UK Council for Child Internet Safety (UKCCIS), United Kingdom;

        2009- ongoing Member of the Ethic Committee, School of Law, Middlesex University;

        2003-ongoing Member of Scientific Committee, Prometeo, Milan, Italy

        2010-2014 Member of the Advisory Group (HMIC) Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (UK)

        Professional Practice and Knowledge exchange

        2018-ongoingExpert Advisor of European Intelligence and Security http://www.eisic.eu/organization.aspx

        2018-ongoing Expert advisor for DG Connect Study (SMART 2017/0066) on best practices to tackle child sexual abuse online

        2017-ongoing Expert Advisor onThe Dark Web Mapping Project, Essex University, United Kingdom

        2017-ongoing Expert Advisor Telefono Azzurro, Expert Advisor, Scientific Committee (Project 114 Emergenza Infanzia), Milan, Italy

        At different times: advise global high-tech companies including Facebook and other organizations such as Telefono Azzurro, NSPCC, The Children Commissioner, Metropolitan Police, Internet Watch Foundation, Polizia di Stato.

      • Research Outputs &
        Interests

        Selected Publications

        Books:

        Martellozzo, E. (2012) “Online Child Sexual Abuse: Grooming, Policing and Child Protection in a Multi-Media World” (Routledge)

        Martellozzo, E., Jane, E. (Eds) (2017) “Cybercrime and its Victims” (Routledge)

        Book Chapters:

        • Martellozzo, E. (2019) Online Child Sexual Abuse. In Child Abuse: Evidence, Prevention, Management, and Policy (Robinson,Y. et al. Eds). Elsevier Science

          Martellozzo, E. (2011) 'Sex Offenders Use of the Internet' In Internet Child Abuse: Current Research & Practice. Davidson, J & Gottschalk, P (2011). Routledge

        • Davidson, J., Martellozzo, E., (2009) ‘Internet Sex Offenders:’ ‘Folk Devils’ and State Surveillance’ in Individual Freedom, Autonomy and the State’ Eds Johnson, M & Scalter, S (Sociol-Legal Research Group. Cambs). Hart Press

        • Davidson, J., Martellozzo, E. (2009) ‘Globalization, Urbanization & Security’ in Urbanization, Policing & Security: Global Perspectives. Cordner G, Cordner AM, and Das D. (Editors). Routledge

        • Davidson, J., Martellozzo, E. (2008) ‘Protecting Children in Cyberspace’ ‘Sex Crime’ (Eds) Letherby, G., Birch, P., Cain, M. and Williams, K. Willan Publishers.

        Journals / Articles:

        • Martellozzo, E. (2015) Policing Online Child Sexual Abuse: The British Experience. European Journal of Policing Studies
        • Davidson, J. Martellozzo, E. (2012) ‘Exploring young People Use of Social Networking Sites and Digital Media in the Internet safety Context: A Comparison of the UK and Bahrain’ Information, Communication and Society. Routledge
        • Martellozzo, E. Nehring, D. Taylor, H (2011) ‘Online Child Sexual Abuse by Female Offenders: An Exploratory Study’ Cyber Journal of Criminology Vol 4 (1&2): 592–609
        • Martellozzo, E. (2009) ‘Cuidado y Proteccion de Menores Contra el Abuso Online’. Cuadernos de Seguridad. 11, 151-181
        • Martellozzo, E. and Taylor, H. (2009). ‘Cycle of Abuse’. Index on Censorship. 38, 117-122. Routledge
        • Davidson, J. and Martellozzo, E. (2008) ‘Policing the Internet: Protecting Vulnerable Children from Sex Offenders in Cyberspace’ in Police Investigations Police Practice & Research: An International Journal (PPR). Routledge

        Research reports:

        Publication Feed

        Exploring the removal of online child sexual abuse material in the United Kingdom: processes and practice

        Martellozzo, Elena and DeMarco, Jeffrey (2020) Exploring the removal of online child sexual abuse material in the United Kingdom: processes and practice. Crime Prevention & Community Safety , 22 (4). ISSN 1460-3780 (Accepted/In press)

        Researching the affects that on online pornography has on U.K. adolescents aged 11 to 16

        Martellozzo, Elena and Monaghan, Andrew and Davidson, Julia and Adler, Joanna R. (2020) Researching the affects that on online pornography has on U.K. adolescents aged 11 to 16. SAGE Open , 10 (1). pp. 1-11. ISSN 2158-2440

        Online child sexual abuse

        Martellozzo, Elena (2019) Online child sexual abuse. In: Child Abuse and Neglect: Forensic Issues in Evidence, Impact, and Management. Bryce, India and Robinson, Yolande and Petherick, Wayne , eds. Elsevier. ISBN 9780128153444 (Accepted/In press)

        Online sexual grooming: children as victims of online abuse

        Martellozzo, Elena (2017) Online sexual grooming: children as victims of online abuse. In: Cybercrime and its victims. Martellozzo, Elena and Jane, Emma A , eds. Routledge Taylor & Francis, pp. 108-128. ISBN 9781138639447

        Cybercrime and its victims

        Martellozzo, Elena and Jane, Emma A , eds. (2017) Cybercrime and its victims. Routledge Studies in Crime and Society . Routledge. ISBN 9781138639447

        View more publications

      • Funded Research &
        Knowledge Exchange Projects

        RESEARCH PROJECTS (POST 2009)

        09/2016- ongoing

        01/2015- 05-2016

        12/2014-04-2016

        09/2011-04/2012

        09/2010-03/2011

        6/2009-6/2012

        Internet Watch Foundation, United Kingdom (Co-Principal Investigator)

        An evaluation of effectiveness in safeguarding cyberspace from illegal content

        Telecommunication Regulatory Autonomy, Kingdom of Bahrain (Co-Principal Investigator)

        National Internet Safety Review

        NSPCC, OCC, BBFC (Co-Principal Investigator)

        A quantitative and qualitative examination of the impact of legal pornography on the values, attitudes, beliefs and behaviour of children and young people

        Metropolitan Police

        Understanding sex Offenders Online Activities: Developing Research and Training for Covert Internet Investigators (Principal Investigator)

        Metropolitan Police

        Understanding Children’s Online Activities: Developing Research and Enhancing Police Practice (Principal Investigator)

        Telecommunication Regulatory Autonomy, Kingdom of Bahrain

        State of the Nation Review (Co-Principal Investigator)

        1/2009-6/2009

        Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP)

        Evaluation of ThinkUKnow Internet Safety Programme (Research Assistant)

        1/2009-6/2009

        National Audit Office

        Young people and Internet safety online survey (Research Assistant)

      • Engagement &
        Impact

        Media work

        • BBC Trending: YouTube Drama (June, 2018)
        • Quartz: A generation of children is learning about sex through porn (April, 2017);

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