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
English, Italian, Spanish
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.
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 (Completed 2019) A critical evaluation of the justifications for the criminalization of virtual child pornography. Co-supervised with Prof Julia Davidson
Nicola Coleman (Complted 2021) A Critical exploration of the Relationship between Family structure, Family Functioning and Youth Offending. Co-supervised with Dr David Porteous and Dr Carly Guest
Paula Bradbury (Ongoing) Outcome 21. Co-supervisor Dr Jeffrey DeMarco
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)
At different times: advise major 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.
Selected Publications
Books:
Martellozzo, E., Jane, E. (Eds) (2017) “Cybercrime and its Victims” (Routledge)
Martellozzo, E. (2012) “Online Child Sexual Abuse: Grooming, Policing and Child Protection in a Multi-Media World” (Routledge)
Book Chapters:
Martellozzo, E. (2019) ‘Online Child Sexual Abuse’ in Bryce, I., Robinson, Y., & Petherick, W. (2018). Child Abuse and Neglect: Forensic issues in evidence, impact and Management. London: Elsevier
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 online: Towards a safer Internet’ ‘Sex Crime’ (Eds) Letherby, G., Birch, P., Cain, M. and Williams, K. Willan Publishers.
Journals / Articles:
Martellozzo, E., Monaghan, A., Davidson, J., Adler, J. (2020) The affects & effects of online pornography on UK children. Open Sage, Sage.
Martellozzo, E., DeMarco, J. (2020) Exploring the processes of removing child sexual abuse material online. The case study of the Internet Watch Foundation. Journal of Criminological Research, Policy and Practice, Emerald.
Martellozzo, E., Davidson, J., Monaghan, A. (Submitted) Children’s online behaviour and their perception of risk. A cross-cultural case study of the Kingdom of Bahrain. International Journal of Media and Cultural Politics.
Martellozzo, E. (2015) Policing Online Child Sexual Abuse: The British Experience. European Journal of Policing Studies 3(1) pp. 32-52
Davidson, J. Martellozzo, E. (2013) ‘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’ International Journal of Cyber Criminology, 4 (1&2). pp. 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). Pp 277-289. Routledge.
Research reports:
Martellozzo, E., Davidson, J, DeMarco, J., Monaghan, A. (Forthcoming, 2020). Child Sexual Abuse Offending and Typology Development. Bernardo’s.
DeMarco, J., Martellozzo, E. (2018) Measuring Effectiveness: A Multi-Dimensional Evaluation of the Internet Watch Foundation. IWF
Martellozzo, E., Monaghan, A.; Adler, J.; Davidson J.; Leyva, R.; Horvath, M. (2016) “I Wasn’t Sure it was normal to watch it…” A Quantitative and Qualitative Examination of The Impact of Legal Pornography on the Values, Attitudes, Beliefs and Behaviours of Children and Young People. NSPCC and OCC http://eprints.mdx.ac.uk/19989/6/MDX%20NSPCC%20OCC%20Online%20Pornography%2016.5.17a%20(2).pdf
Martellozzo, E. (2011) Understanding sex Offenders Online Activities: Developing Research and Training for Covert Internet Investigators. Metropolitan Police.
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). pp. 331-350. ISSN 1460-3780
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
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)
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
Martellozzo, Elena and Jane, Emma A , eds. (2017) Cybercrime and its victims. Routledge Studies in Crime and Society . Routledge. ISBN 9781138639447
I have substantial experience working across diverse, politically and culturally challenging contexts in online protection including Rwanda and Bahrain. In the UK, I have been funded by the Home Office, CEOP, the Police, the IWF, the College of Policing. Please find below a list of selected research projects I have undertaken:
| 2020-2021 | College of Policing (PI) Evaluation of the Stalking Tool |
| 2018-2019
| Home Office with Barnardo’s (PI) Developing typologies of sex offences
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| 2018
| Middlesex University (Co-PI) Exploring the pathways of hacking in young people
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| 2016- 2018
| Internet Watch Foundation, United Kingdom (Co-PI) An evaluation of effectiveness in safeguarding cyberspace
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| 2014-2016
| NSPCC, OCC, BBFC (Co-PI) Examining the impact of legal pornography on children Metropolitan Police (PI)
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| 2011-2012
| Metropolitan Police (PI) Understanding sex Offenders Online Activities
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| 2010-2011 | Metropolitan Police (PI) Understanding Children’s Online Activities: Enhancing Practice Police |
Media work
