19 people across the state have charged various online grooming and child abuse material offences, as police continue to remind parents about online safety.
To coincide with National Child Protection Week, officers from Police Area Commands and Police Districts throughout NSW – with assistance from the State Crime Command’s Sex Crimes Squad’s Child Exploitation Internet Unit (CEIU) – executed a targeted ‘Week of Action’, focusing on ongoing investigations relating to online grooming and procurement offences, and possession of child abuse material.
Arrests of note include:
- About 2.25pm on Monday 4 September 2023, police attended a home in Hillvue to execute a search warrant, where they spoke to a 20-year-old man. During a search of the home, police seized a number of electronic devices allegedly containing a large amount of child abuse material. The man was arrested and taken to Tamworth Police Station, where he was charged with one count of possess child abuse material. He was granted conditional bail to appear at Tamworth Local Court on Monday 18 September 2023.
- At 7am on Tuesday 5 September 2023, Ryde Police Area Command officers – with assistance of the North West Metropolitan Operational Support Group – executed a commonwealth search warrant at a Dural home, where they spoke to a 20-year-old male. During the search, officers seized digital devices allegedly containing child abuse material, a laser pointer, and a gel blaster. The man was arrested and taken to Ryde Police Station, where he was charged with five offences including possess child abuse material, possess prohibited weapon without permit, and possess unauthorised pistol. He was granted conditional bail to appear at Burwood Local Court on Monday 9 October 2023.
- About 8.30am on Tuesday 5 September 2023, police from Orana Mid-Western Police District executed a commonwealth search warrant at a home in Dubbo. During a search of the home, police analysed and seized a number of electronic devices, where they allegedly located a large amount of child abuse material. A 19-year-old man was arrested and taken to Dubbo Police Station, where he was charged with five counts of use carriage service to access child abuse material. He was refused bail to appear at Dubbo Local Court, where he was formally bail refused to reappear at the same court on Thursday 21 December 2023.
- Earlier this month, detectives from the CEIU commenced an investigation in relation to alleged child abuse material being accessed. This investigation was referred to Riverstone Police who continued inquiries. After investigations, detectives executed a search warrant at a home on Rouse Hill about 7.30am on Wednesday 6 September 2023. Police seized a number of electronic devices for further forensic examination. A 51-year-old man was arrested at the home and taken to Riverstone Police Station, where he was charged with use carriage service to access child abuse material. He was refused bail to appear at Blacktown Local Court, where he was formally refused bail to reappear at Penrith Local Court on Friday 3 November 2023.
- About 6am on Thursday 7 September 2023, detectives from Ryde Police Area Command attended a home on Marsfield, where they spoke with a 37-year-old man. During a subsequent search warrant at the home, police seized electronic devices allegedly containing child abuse material, and 18 prohibited firearms. The man was arrested and taken to Ryde Police Station, where he was charged with 23 offences including 19 counts of possess unauthorised pistol, and one count each of possess child abuse material, possess unauthorised prohibited firearm, acquire pistol part without authority, and possess/use prohibited weapon without permit. He was bail refused to appear at Burwood Local Court, where he was formally bail refused to reappear at the same court on Wednesday 20 September 2023.
- About 9.30am on Thursday 7 September 2023, detectives from Auburn Police Area Command attended a unit in Homebush to execute a search warrant in relation to alleged possession of child abuse material. During the warrant, police allegedly located a large amount of child abuse material. A 26-year-old man was arrested and taken to Auburn Police Station, where he was charged with one count of possess child abuse material. He was refused bail to appear at Burwood Local Court, where he was formally bail refused to reappear at the same court on Tuesday 12 September 2023.
- In August, CEIU detectives referred a matter to Monaro Police District in relation to possession of alleged child abuse material. Following investigations, police attended a business in Queanbeyan about 9.20am on Thursday 7 September, where they spoke to and arrested a 36-year-old man. Officers then executed a search warrant at a nearby home, where police seized a number of electronic devices, firearms, and ammunition. The man was charged with possess child abuse material. He was granted conditional bail to appear at Queanbeyan Local Court on Tuesday 3 October 2023.
Sex Crimes Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent Jayne Doherty APM, said these arrests demonstrate the dedication of officers from across the state to protect the children of NSW.
“There are multiple arrests every day in NSW for alleged offences whereby children are at the centre of the matter. This is a topic we cannot just stay silent over – the safety and protection of children of this state should be at the front of everyone’s minds.
“Once again this is a timely reminder for parents and carers to be conscious of what they share online. Images shared online can seem innocent to most parents and carers, but to online predators, they can be exploited for their own personal gratification.
“This year’s theme for National Child Protection Week is ‘Where we start matters’ – parents and carers must ask themselves every day how they can better educate their children about online dangers from an early age. If parents need guidance, they can look to the ThinkUKnow site for up-to-date information and advice
“Conversations online can quickly turn into a scary and dangerous place, so parents need to be aware of the forums and applications their children are using.
“It’s also about how we model our behaviours to show children how best to use social media and websites. Start talking to your children about what content you can safely share,” Det Supt Doherty said.
For more information about National Child Protection Week, visit www.napcan.org.au/ncpw.
More information and educational packages for parents and children are available from ThinkUKnow, including the award-winning children’s picture book about online safety Jack Changes the Game. ThinkUKnow is an AFP program designed to educate and promote online child safety: https://www.thinkuknow.org.au/.
eSafety has a range of advice and resources to help parents and caregivers keep kids safe online: www.esafety.gov.au/parents.
Strike Force Trawler is an ongoing investigation by the CEIU into the sexual abuse and exploitation of children facilitated through the internet and related telecommunications devices.
Regular covert online investigations are conducted by the CEIU; and police in NSW work closely with their law-enforcement colleagues interstate and overseas.
Anyone with concerns about suspected child abuse or exploitation should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au.
Information you provide will be treated in the strictest of confidence. People should not report crime information via our Facebook and Twitter pages.
