A message from the Queensland Police Service and the Queensland Family and Child Commission
The investigators within Queensland Police Service’s Argos do a job not many of us could, they investigate internet facilitated crimes against children. Over the years, the team has seen the worst crimes and witnessed these atrocities captured across hundreds and thousands of child exploitation images and videos. They have seen and heard the pain, the trauma and the suffering. They have seen it all.
But that’s their job and the world is a better place because of people like them.
Too many of these crimes have started with a stranger befriending a child online, a simple friend request on a social media platform that led to the child chatting online and eventually meeting up with their new friend. An unlocked social media account that virtually unlocked their front door. It allowed the stranger to walk straight into their house and take away the trust and innocence every child deserves to hold onto for as long as they can.
As a parent there are many ways you can prevent these crimes. Yes, we are all busy, however many of these crimes have been committed while a child plays on their device, happily distracted while the parents cook dinner in the next room.
If you give a child a device, learn how it and the games and programs they use on it work first. Establish trust and talk openly with them about the risks and most importantly, what they must do if they are approached online.
Keep in mind the risks you pose to your family with your own social media accounts. If you post photos of your children on an open account, just know you are letting the world and especially those who prey on and collect images of children, free and open access. It happens. The team at Argos can certainly confirm this, because they have seen it.
Our message is for you and it is a message direct from the investigators who have seen it all.
For further information, support and resources, contact:
https://www.qfcc.qld.gov.au/kids/protecting-kids-online
For information and fact sheets and to report cyberbullying, image-based abuse or offensive and illegal content, visit:
If you have information for police, contact Policelink on 131 444 or provide information using the online form 24hrs per day.
You can report information about crime anonymously to Crime Stoppers, a registered charity and community volunteer organisation, by calling 1800 333 000 or via crimestoppersqld.com.au 24hrs per day.
