The use of AI tools, such as ChatGPT, has been linked to a rise in reports of organised ritual abuse in the UK, according to experts. As reported by The Guardian, therapists have warned about the potential risks and benefits of using AI chatbots for mental health support, including the disclosure of traumatic experiences.
Organised ritual abuse, also known as 'witchcraft, spirit possession and spiritual abuse' (WSPRA), involves the use of ritualistic elements to control and abuse victims, often including sexual abuse, violence, and neglect. Perpetrators can include abusive families and networks, human traffickers, online gangs, and paedophile rings.
Despite the severity of these crimes, there have been only 14 UK criminal cases since 1982 in which ritualistic practices in sexual abuse were acknowledged. However, research by clinical psychologist Dr Elly Hanson suggests that convictions reflect only the 'tip of the iceberg'.
Expert Analysis and Training
Experts are now rolling out training for police forces, led by the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC), which has set up a specialist working group to address the issue. Gabrielle Shaw, CEO of the National Association of People Abused in Childhood (Napac), has noted a 'sustained rise' in reports of ritual abuse over the last 18 months, with an increasing number of people saying they had been led to report it by AI.
Shaw stated, 'Over the last six months to a year, we're getting people contacting the Napac support line saying: 'I was referred to you by ChatGPT'. People are using AI, ChatGPT as a form of therapy and exploration. There are mixed feelings about that, but if it's a route into support, that has to be a good thing.'
The NPCC, Napac, and the Hydrant policing programme commissioned a review from Hanson last year and launched a WSPRA briefing for professionals this month. The briefing aims to improve understanding and response to organised ritual abuse.
Case Studies and Statistics
Last year, members of a paedophile ring in Scotland – who posed as witches and wizards – were jailed for sexual offences. Shaw noted that of 36,700 calls over nine years to NAPAC, 1,310 mentioned organised ritual abuse. She also stated that offending could be 'intergenerational in nature' and that while perpetrators were predominantly male, survivors named 'grandmothers and aunts' as perpetrators.
Richard Fewkes, Hydrant Programme's director, said that the fact ritual elements sounded 'fantastical' had contributed to the justice gap. He added, 'We need to improve right the way across the system in dealing with it – it's out there, it does exist and it's not actually being reported (to police)… we've known about this for many, many years.'
Challenges and Misconceptions
Hanson said that victims were growing up in 'regimes of cruelty', but the truth was 'getting lost between' a 'discourse of disbelief' on one hand, and 'conspiracy fictions' on the other. She added, 'We're not seeing this abuse happening in particular cultures rather than others. This is something we're seeing happening within white British, often privileged families. It's not conforming to any stereotypes about where it might be.'
The rise in reported cases of organised ritual abuse highlights the need for improved understanding, training, and support for victims and professionals. As experts continue to work together to address this issue, it is essential to acknowledge the complexities and challenges involved in reporting and responding to these crimes.
