A Sydney man faced Downing Centre Local Court today (27 July, 2023) charged with online child abuse offences.
The AFP started an investigation in July 2023 after receiving a report about a user of an online dating application sending another user a message indicating an interest in child abuse material.
AFP Eastern Command Child Protection Operations allegedly linked the man, 38, to the account that had sent the message.
Police will allege the man engaged in further online conversations in which he shared child abuse material with online operatives.
The AFP executed a search warrant at the man’s Zetland home yesterday (26 July, 2023), allegedly finding methamphetamine and child abuse material on electronic devices seized in the home. The devices will be subject to further examination.
The man was charged with:
- One count of possessing child abuse material accessed or obtained using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22A of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth);
- One count of using a carriage service to access child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22 of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth);
- One count of causing child abuse material to be transmitted to self, using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22 of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth); and
- One count of possessing a prohibited drug, namely methamphetamine, contrary to section 10(1) of the Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act 1985 (NSW).
The maximum penalty for the offences is 15 years’ imprisonment.
AFP Detective Inspector Jeremy Staunton said anyone who consumed and shared abhorrent material was committing a crime, and would be identified and arrested.
“Law enforcement agencies have many tools up their sleeve to track these individuals down and bring them before the courts,” Det-Insp Staunton said.
“The AFP remains committed to targeting and identifying those who seek to harm children.”
The AFP and its partners are committed to stopping child exploitation and abuse and the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation is driving a collaborative national approach to combatting child abuse.
The ACCCE brings together specialist expertise and skills in a central hub, supporting investigations into online child sexual exploitation and developing prevention strategies focused on creating a safer online environment.
Members of the public who have information about people involved in child abuse are urged to contact the ACCCE at www.accce.gov.au/report. If you know abuse is happening right now or a child is at risk, call police immediately on 000.
If you or someone you know is impacted by child sexual abuse and online exploitation, support services are available at www.accce.gov.au/support.
Research conducted by the ACCCE in 2020 revealed only about half of parents talked to their children about online safety. Advice and support for parents and carers about how they can help protect children online can be found at www.thinkuknow.org.au, an AFP-led education program designed to prevent online child sexual exploitation.
