Darwin man faces court over alleged child abuse material offences
Detectives from the Northern Territory Joint Anti-Child Exploitation Team (JACET) have arrested a 51-year-old man for possessing child abuse material.
Northern Territory Police and the Australian Federal Police (AFP) executed a search warrant at a residence in Johnston on Thursday 12 November 2020. During the search, police located electronic items and online accounts that allegedly contained child abuse material.
The man has been charged with:
- Access child abuse material through a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth)
- Possession or control of child abuse material accessed through a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22A of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth)
- Access child pornography - s474.19 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth).
He is due to appear in court today.
NT Police Detective Sergeant Paul Lawson said, "Our presence in the online environment is growing, if you are involved in the e-crime of exploiting children, it's only a matter of time before we come knocking on your door. Every unlawful picture viewed is an offence committed upon a child".
The Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (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 AFP-led 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.
Media enquiries
PFES Media (08) 8985 8829
AFP Media (02) 5126 9297
Note to media:
Use of term 'CHILD ABUSE' MATERIAL NOT 'CHILD PORNOGRAPHY'
The correct legal term is Child Abuse Material – the move to this wording was among amendments to Commonwealth legislation in 2019 to more accurately reflect the gravity of the crimes and the harm inflicted on victims.
Use of the phrase "child pornography" is inaccurate and benefits child sex abusers because it:
- indicates legitimacy and compliance on the part of the victim and therefore legality on the part of the abuser; and
- conjures images of children posing in 'provocative' positions, rather than suffering horrific abuse
Every photograph or video captures an actual situation where a child has been abused.