This is a joint media release between the Australian Federal Police and Australian Border Force.
A West Australian man is expected to face Perth Magistrates Court today (18 November 2022) charged with possessing and accessing child abuse material.
An investigation into the man, 37, began in March 2021, after Australian Border Force (ABF) officers inspected a package addressed to him and identified an item classified as objectionable child abuse material, including a child-like sex doll.
ABF investigators executed a search warrant at the man’s Fremantle home on 18 March 2022, where they seized a child-like sex doll, four electronic devices and an encrypted USB that allegedly contained child abuse material.
The evidence was referred to the Western Australia Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (WA JACET), which comprises AFP and WA Police officers, who forensically examined the devices on 21 October 2022.
The man was summonsed to appear in Perth Magistrates Court on 18 November 2022.
AFP Detective Sergeant Ross Hinscliff said this arrest was another reminder of the commitment undertaken by the AFP and its state and international partners to protect children and identify and prosecute anyone who seeks to exploit or harm them.
“This arrest should serve as a warning law enforcement is dedicated to fighting child sexual abuse and bringing those who commit these offences before the court,” he said.
ABF Superintendent Clinton Sims said ABF officers work extremely diligently to disrupt all attempts to import child-like sex dolls and child abuse material into Australia, including through the international mail system.
“Once they are seized we work very closely with our law enforcement partners to ensure those responsible for these abhorrent offences are prosecuted and stopped before escalating their offending,” Superintendent Sims said
The man appeared in court in relation to the following charges:
- One count of possessing child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22A of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth);
- One count of accessing child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22(1)(a)(i) Criminal Code 1995 (Cth)
The maximum penalty for each of the offences is 15 years’ imprisonment.
The ABF also charged the man with one count of importing a Tier 2 good, namely a child-like sex doll in contravention of Section 233BAB(5) of the Customs Act 1901 (Cth).
The maximum penalty is 10 years’ imprisonment and/or up to a $555,000 fine.
The AFP and its partners are committed to stopping child exploitation and abuse and the ACCCE 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 and exploitation are urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www.accce.gov.au/report. If you know abuse is happening right now or a child is at risk, call police immediately on 000.
Research conducted by the ACCCE in 2020 revealed only about half of parents talked to their children about online safety.
An award-winning podcast launched last year by the ACCCE ‘Closing The Net’ is working to change that, showcasing that knowledge is power and that our only chance to help prevent this issue is if we bring a ‘whole-of-community’ response.
The podcast series offers valuable tips and advice on how to keep kids safe online. Listen to the Closing The Net podcast on your favourite streaming platform.
If you or someone you know are impacted by child sexual abuse and online exploitation there are support services available at www.accce.gov.au/support.
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.
