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24 March 2021, 7:54am
Media Release

Queensland man faces nine charges of allegedly possessing child abuse material

**Editor's Note: Images of the investigation are available via Hightail

A 54-year-old man from Queensland's Moreton Bay is expected to face Caboolture Magistrates Court today (24 March) charged with nine counts of possessing child abuse material.

The Australian Federal Police's Brisbane Child Protection Operations charged the man in October 2020, after investigating a report from the United States National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), sent to the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE).

The NCMEC report alleged a person suspected to be in Queensland was accessing child abuse material using Snapchat, Facebook and WhatsApp. Police inquiries allegedly connected the 54-year-old to the accounts.

Investigators from AFP Brisbane Child Protection Operations executed a search warrant at a home in Bellmere on 29 October 2020.

Officers seized a seized a number of electronic items from the home, including seven storage devices, two smart phones and a laptop for examination.

The man has been charged with nine counts of possessing child abuse material obtained or accessed using a carriage service.

The potential maximum penalty for the offence is 15 years imprisonment.

AFP Child Protection Operations Detective Superintendent Paula Hudson said the investigation shows that child abuse material is not restricted to the Dark Web.

"Sadly, this vile material can be accessed and shared even on mainstream platforms and applications," Detective Superintendent Hudson said.

"That's why it's so important to educate yourself and your kids about how to use social media safely and how to report child abuse material to the platform and police."

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.

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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