WA man charged over child abuse material offences
A West Australian man is expected to appear in the Perth Magistrates Court today (2 June 2023), charged with possessing child abuse material.
The Western Australia Joint Anti-Child Exploitation Team (JACET) allegedly identified the man after the New South Wales Police Force received a report about a user downloading child abuse material online.
Police from the WA JACET allegedly linked the man to the accounts downloading the material from an online file sharing platform.
A search warrant was executed at the man’s Landsdale home yesterday, with investigators allegedly finding child abuse material on electronic devices. Other electronic devices, including a gaming console, cameras and storage devices, were seized and will be subject to further forensic examination.
Police also seized a child-like sex doll from the home.
AFP Detective Sergeant Ross Hinscliff said the investigation highlighted how closely police around Australia worked together to combat the exploitation and abuse of children.
"Our common goal is to protect children and working together to share information and resources means we can ensure anyone who tries to harm them is identified and brought before the courts," Det-Sgt Hinscliff said.
The man was charged with possession of child exploitation material, contrary to section 220 of the Criminal Code Act 1913 (WA).
The maximum penalty for the offences is 7 years' imprisonment.
The AFP and its partners are committed to stopping child exploitation and abuse and the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation 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 at www.accce.gov.au/report. 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 at www.accce.gov.au/support.
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 www.thinkuknow.org.au, 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 www.accce.gov.au.
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.
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