A 28-year-old man is expected to face court today (Tuesday 20 July 2021), charged with child abuse-related offences by officers from the Brisbane Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (JACET). The man was charged following a report to the Australian Federal Police-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) from the United States' National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).
Investigators allegedly linked the man to child abuse material uploaded to Facebook.
Police conducted a search warrant at the man's Morayfield home in April 2021, where a smart phone was taken for further examination. The man was charged with possessing child abuse material accessed using a carriage service. The maximum penalty for this offence is 15 years' imprisonment. He is expected to appear before Caboolture Magistrates Court today (20 July 2021).
AFP Child Protection Operations Detective Superintendent Paula Hudson said police will never give up their fight to keep children safe online. "Our investigators examine the most horrific and heartbreaking content, frame by frame, and share intelligence with partners around Australia to identify and save children, and prosecute perpetrators," Detective Superintendent Hudson said.
The ACCCE is committed to stopping child exploitation and abuse and is at the centre of a collaborative national approach to combatting organised child abuse. The Centre brings together specialist expertise and skills in a central hub, supporting investigations into child sexual abuse and developing prevention strategies focused on creating a safer online environment. The Brisbane JACET comprises the AFP and officers from the Queensland Police Service.
Members of the public who have any information about people involved in child abuse and exploitation are urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report online. If you or someone you know are impacted by child sexual abuse and online exploitation there are support services available. Advice and support for parents and carers about how they can help protection children online can be found at ThinkUKnow, an AFP-led education program designed to prevent online child sexual exploitation.
