Online criminality continues to rise in both volume and complexity as technology evolves at pace. While online abuse is often incorrectly described as “victimless”, the reality is very different. The harms caused through Community Groups, or “Com Groups”, are severe, traumatic and deeply damaging to victims and survivors.

Com Groups are online collectives who work together, or compete, across chat platforms to cause harm, commit crime, gain notoriety or generate profit. Their offending commonly involves:

• Extortion and coercion of children into producing indecent images, self-harm and abuse
• Cyber-enabled offences such as swatting, doxxing and ransomware activity
• Promotion of offline violence including assault, arson and murder, alongside extremist material

The emerging nature of this threat has created significant challenges for law enforcement agencies both nationally and internationally. In response, The Hydrant Programme developed the newly published Practice Advice for Investigating Community Groups (Com Groups) to provide investigators and senior officers with vital guidance and support.

Alongside the Com Groups guidance, Kay has also overseen the review and republication of the national practice advice for investigating online child sexual abuse and exploitation and produced dedicated guidance for investigators handling financially motivated sexual extortion (FMSE) cases.

Her work has already had significant international impact, with the publication shared widely across law enforcement agencies in the UK, United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

Adele Desirs, Victim Identification Manager within the Argos Team, Queensland Police Service, described the guidance as:

"This is the best and most comprehensive guide I've ever read on the issue."

Rob Richardson, Senior Manager – CSA Threat Leadership at the National Crime Agency, said:

“The Practice Advice for Investigating Community Groups, produced by the Hydrant team, provides clear, authoritative and robust guidance ensuring a consistent approach for the identification, investigation and safeguarding of children and young people drawn into these dangerous sub cultures.”

T/DI Andy Marsh from Thames Valley Police added:

“Kay’s efforts in the collation of this report have truly benefitted investigators, both here in the UK and across other Five Eyes countries.”

Matt McNelis, T/Detective Chief Inspector – Strategic Vulnerability at West Mercia Police, said:

“Kay is one of the most engaging and tenacious people I know and has worked tirelessly in this area to improve practice and help forces protect children.”