Darwin man faces court over alleged child abuse material offences
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Detectives from the Northern Territory Joint Anti-Child Exploitation Team (JACET) have arrested a 21-year-old man for allegedly possessing child abuse material.
Following a report from the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) in the United States, officers executed a search warrant at a residence in Southport, on the outskirts of Darwin, on Friday 4 June 2021.
During the search, police located electronic items and online accounts that allegedly contained child abuse material.
The man has been charged with two counts of possessing or controlling child abuse material obtained or accessed using a carriage service. He appeared in court today (7 June 2021) and was remanded in custody. He is due to appear again in court this Friday (11 June 2021).
AFP Child Protection Operations Detective Superintendent Paula Hudson said the AFP's presence in the online environment is growing to protect children here and overseas.
"If you are involved in the abuse of children online 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," she said.
The Northern Territory JACET is comprised of officers from the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Northern Territory Police.
The AFP-led 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
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.