Gold Coast man facing child abuse material offences

A 43-year-old Gold Coast man has been charged in relation to allegations he has been possessing and distributing child abuse material online.

The investigation was launched after the Australian Federal Police-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) received a series of reports of suspicious online activity via the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) in the United States.

It is alleged the NCMEC received information relating to a Queensland-based internet user uploading and sharing child abuse material depicting young males and females across social media platforms Snapchat and MeWe.

The Brisbane Joint Anti-Child Exploitation Team (JACET) made the arrest on Wednesday 2 September, 2020, after executing a search warrant at the man’s Gaven home on Wednesday 30 July, 2020.

Investigators seized electronic devices from the property, including four mobile phones, along with drug paraphernalia.

The man has been charged with Commonwealth offences of possessing child abuse material and using a carriage service to transmit child abuse material offences.

He is expected to face the Brisbane Magistrates’ Court on 25 September 2020.

ACCCE Detective Superintendent Paula Hudson said the arrest in Queensland coincides with National Child Protection Week, currently underway across the country.

“This arrest should serve as yet another warning to those seeking to harm our most vulnerable in our community. The AFP and its partners will never relinquish our duty to keep our children safe,” she said.

“The AFP has seen first-hand the impact of this crime, and this is why we are a strong advocate for raising awareness about this important issue. We want parents and caregivers to understand how their children are being targeted and how predators are abusing technology to try and invite themselves into the bedrooms of our children,” Superintendent Hudson said.

“Please learn what sites your children are using online and turn off chat functions if possible. Resources such as the ACCCE and ThinkUKnow 7 day family online safety challenge helps parents, carers and teachers instil good online behaviour in children and I urge all Australians to be aware of the dangers that face children online.”

“We need to be acting as a community to be alive to the risks that may be facing our children, and prevent online child sexual exploitation-during National Child Protection Week and every week.”

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.

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.

You can also make a report online by alerting the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation via the Report Abuse button at www.accce.gov.au/report.

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