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 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
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)
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.
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
Journals / Articles:
Research reports:
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) |
Media work
