News Centre

***Editor's note: arrest footage is available via Hightail. This media release has been edited to confirm NZ Police as the referring agency.***

A 31-year-old Sydney man is due to appear in the Bankstown Local Court today following an Australian Federal Police (AFP) investigation into alleged child abuse offences reported by NZ Police.

The AFP's Eastern Command Child Protection Operations (CPO) team arrested the man yesterday (6 August 2020) during a search warrant executed at his Bankstown residence, where a number of electronic items were seized for evidentiary purposes and further examination.

About $12,000 in cash and 50 grams of a substance suspected to be cocaine were also seized.

The AFP investigation began following a NZ Police report to the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) on 1 July 2020. NZ Police conducted its own preliminary investigation into a social media account allegedly involved in the transmission of child abuse material, before handing the matter over to Australian authorities.

The AFP's Eastern Command CPO team was able to identify the man's residence and obtain further evidence of alleged child abuse offences.

Following his arrest, the AFP conveyed the man to Bankstown Police Station where he was refused police bail and charged with the following offences:

• 1 x use carriage service for child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth);
• 1 x dealing with property reasonably suspected of being proceeds of crime, contrary to section 400.9 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth);
• 1 x possess prohibited drug, contrary to section 10 of the Drugs Misuse and Trafficking Act 1985 (NSW); and
• 1 x supply prohibited drug, contrary to section 25 of the Drugs Misuse and Trafficking Act 1985 (NSW).

The charges carry a maximum of 15 years' imprisonment.

AFP Detective Superintendent Ben McQuillan said "this investigation shows that the AFP stands shoulder to shoulder with our international counterparts in the fight against child abuse.

"It serves as a warning for people who use, share or create child abuse material – you are not anonymous and we are hunting you down."

A NZ Police media release on this matter is now available.

How to report child sexual abuse in Australia?

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.

EDITORS NOTE

Media are reminded of their obligations under s15A of the Children (Criminal Proceedings) Act 1987 (NSW) and s105 of the Children and Young Person (Care and Protection) Act 1998 (NSW).

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.

Media enquiries

AFP Media: (02) 5126 9297