A 43-year-old Tasmanian man was charged with child exploitation offences after authorities executed a search warrant at a Chigwell property this morning (Thursday, 29 October, 2020).
The Tasmanian Joint Anti-Child Exploitation Team (JACET), comprising Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Tasmania Police members, charged the man with accessing and possessing child abuse material offences.
The Tasmanian JACET executed the search warrant at the man’s Chigwell property following a string of reports to the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) via the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) in the United States.
Detectives seized electronic devices, including laptops, mobile phones and storage devices from the property for further forensic analysis.
It will be alleged in court that the NCMEC reports related to a man uploading and sharing child abuse material to a number of social media and blogging sites online.
The man has been charged with the following offences:
• Use a carriage service to access material, being child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22(1)(a)(i) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth);
• Possessing or controlling child abuse material obtained or accessed using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22A of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth).
He is expected to face the Hobart Magistrates’ Court this afternoon.
Tasmanian JACET AFP Detective Sergeant Aaron Hardcastle said the AFP and its state and territory law enforcement partners remained committed to identifying, targeting and prosecuting those seeking to harm children in Australia and across the globe.
“Today’s arrest is another example of our tireless efforts to protect our community’s most vulnerable – our children,” he said.
“Together with our state and international law enforcement partners, the AFP is committed to tracking down and prosecuting those seeking to carry out these abhorrent crimes.”
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.
