New documentary showcases internationally renowned Argos unit

Queensland Police will soon star in documentary “The Children in the Pictures”. Years in the making, this feature film captures the team of international experts working within Argos and the global cases they’ve helped crack in their pursuit to track down offenders and rescue children from harm around the world.

Argos is the Queensland Police Service’s specialist unit investigating online child exploitation. Everyday these investigators, including officers dedicated to covert and protracted investigations and victim identification analysts, are online working with law enforcement nationally and internationally to prevent, disrupt and investigate child sexual abuse.

“The Children in the Pictures” features Queensland Police Detective Inspector Jon Rouse, who has investigated crimes against children for 25 years and Argos’ victim identification specialists. This is a Brisbane-based team of international experts in digital media analysis who play a crucial role in the identification of victims across the globe.

Warning: This video contains references to child sexual abuse. Viewer discretion advised.

The Children in the Pictures will broadcast on SBS on October 27, along with limited cinema screenings throughout September and October. More information including on theatrical and virtual screenings is available here – https://childreninthepictures.org/

Commissioner Katarina Carroll said the documentary highlights the commitment, dedication and global reputation of Argos and shines a light on what is the world’s fastest growing major crime.

“The cases covered in the film highlight the expertise of our investigators, along with Argos’ innovative investigative strategies that combined with international law enforcement collaboration, have resulted in the rescue of many children from abuse and offenders being brought to justice worldwide,” Commissioner Carroll said.

“However, as Jon and all Argos investigators would stress, the volume of abuse circulating online, including self-produced material, and the lasting offline impacts on victims, is why this global problem cannot be solved by police alone.

“We hope this film encourages parents and caregivers to have important conversations with their children about online risks and how to safely navigate the Internet.”

In the last financial year, Argos:

  • contributed to the identification of 201 children in circumstances of sexual harm nationally and internationally
  • arrested 49 child sex offenders on 402 criminal charges
  • referred 690 cases to law enforcement agencies nationally and internationally.

Due to the borderless nature of online child exploitation, Argos work closely with law enforcement nationally and internationally to share intelligence, collaborate on investigations, and build capability within other agencies. As part of this collaborative approach, Detective Inspector Jon Rouse is currently on secondment at the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) and members of Argos’ Victim Identification Team now co-locate at the ACCCE.


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