WA man charged with online child abuse related offences
This is a joint media release between the Australian Federal Police, Australian Border Force and Western Australia Police Force.
The Western Australia Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (WA JACET) has charged a Perth man with seven child abuse material offences.
The man, 22, was expected to appear before the Perth Magistrates Court again today (12 July, 2024) after his first appearance on 31 May, 2024.
The AFP arrested the man on 31 May, 2024, after Australian Border Force (ABF) officers at Perth International Airport examined his baggage when he returned from overseas.
ABF officers allegedly identified child abuse material in a hidden folder on the man’s mobile phone and notified the AFP.
Investigators from WA JACET, which comprises the AFP and Western Australia Police Force, executed a search warrant at the man’s Quinns Rocks home on 31 May, 2024, with investigators allegedly finding child abuse material on another mobile phone.
AFP Detective Acting Sergeant Rachael Knight said the AFP, alongside partners around Australia and overseas, remained committed to stamping out crimes committed against children.
“Our investigators and partners are relentless in their pursuit of anyone involved in the exploitation or abuse of children, including those sharing or accessing child abuse material,” she said.
“But we will always need the community’s help to ensure we are effective in identifying victims and perpetrators.
“If you have information that could help law enforcement, please contact the ACCCE at https://www.accce.gov.au/report or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.”
ABF Inspector Brett Hennessy said ABF officers worked with the utmost diligence to disrupt the efforts of travellers possessing and attempting to import abhorrent child abuse material.
“Creation, sharing and possession of child abuse material has profound and long-lasting impacts on the lives of victimised children," ABF Inspector Brett Hennessy said.
“Our message to those who may be tempted to engage in this appalling activity is simple. Together with our partners we will detect it and you can expect to face the full legal consequences for your actions.”
The man was charged with:
- Two counts of possessing child abuse material accessed or obtained using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22A of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth);
- One count of using a carriage service to access child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth);
- Three counts of using a carriage service to transmit child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22(1) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth); and
- One count of causing child abuse material to be transmitted, contrary to section 474.22(1) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth).
The maximum penalty for each of the offences is 15 years' imprisonment.
The AFP and its partners are committed to stopping child exploitation and abuse and the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (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 are urged to contact the ACCCE. 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.
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 the ThinkUKnow website, an AFP-led education program designed to prevent online child sexual exploitation.
For more information on the role of the ACCCE, what is online child sexual exploitation and how to report it visit the ACCCE website.
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.