A 36-year-old Strathpine man has been charged with child sex offences following investigations by Argos.
The man was arrested yesterday when he attended a Brisbane fast food business to meet what he believed to be, a 13-year-old girl. He was instead met by detectives from Argos.
The investigation began on October 7 when the man initiated contact with a social media profile of an undercover Argos officer posing as a 13-year-old girl.
It will be alleged that the man engaged in behaviour that constitutes the grooming of a child, including sending photographs of himself naked. Police will allege his behaviour escalated to having the ‘child’ meet him for sex at a local motel.
The 36-year-old man was charged with using the internet to procure a child under 16 years of age with a circumstance of aggravation that the offender went to a place with the intention of meeting the child and grooming a child under 16 years of age.
The man is due to appear at the Brisbane Magistrates Court on November 8.
Detective Inspector Glen Donaldson of the Child Abuse and Sexual Crime Group’s unit Argos said this case highlights the ever-present risk that children can face from online predators and the key role parents and caregivers play in teaching children about online safety.
“Research by the Commonwealth eSafety Commissioner has identified that 1 in 4 children have been approached by a stranger online. The research also shows that over 90% of teens regularly use internet connected devices”, Detective Inspector Donaldson said.
“If parents have children going online then they need to be aware of their online footprint and speak with them about what they can do when they feel unsafe.
“Children and teens must know that nothing is so serious or embarrassing that they can’t approach a trusted adult for support and to report behaviour that makes them feel uncomfortable.
“Supervision is the key to prevention, as is ongoing communication with children about how to stay safe online and the dangers of having online ‘friends’ they have never met face-to-face”.
“Every day Argos has undercover officers working in a range of online platforms to detect and apprehend people who seek to exploit children in our community.
“To those that seek to engage in this predatory behaviour, just remember that the next ‘child’ that you message may be a member of Argos”.
Resources and advice
- eSafety Commissioner a key partner of the QPS in enhancing online safety, with a comprehensive suite of information, resources and reporting tools to ensure children have a safe experience online.
- Who’s chatting to your kids? Further QPS advice and information about reducing online risks for children.
- Out of the dark #doiknowu a campaign by the Queensland Family and Child Commission (QFCC) supported by the QPS and Department of Education, providing resources to help young people stay safe online.
- Think U Know is a partnership between Australian Federal Police, Commonwealth Bank, Datacom, Microsoft, State and Territory Police and Neighbourhood Watch. It provides information on topics including sexting, cyber bullying, online child exploitation, online privacy, and what to do when something goes wrong.
If you have information for police, contact Policelink by providing information using the online suspicious activity form 24hrs per day at www.police.qld.gov.au/reporting.
Report crime information anonymously via Crime Stoppers. Call 1800 333 000 or report online at www.crimestoppersqld.com.au.
