A West Australian man is expected to appear before Perth Magistrates Court today (15 August, 2024) charged with allegedly soliciting child abuse material.
An investigation began after the AFP received seven reports from the United States' National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) regarding a social media user engaging with child abuse material.
Police allegedly linked the man, 22, to the social media user.
Officers from the WA Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (JACET), which comprises the AFP and WA Police Force, executed a search warrant at the man's Withers home on 25 July, 2024. Forensic analysis of a seized device allegedly revealed chats with minors.
AFP Detective Sergeant Karen Addiscott said anyone who attempted to procure child abuse material would be found and subjected to the full force of the law.
"These children are real people and not commodities to be used for the grotesque gratification of predators," Detective Sergeant Addiscott said.
"Our investigators are resolute in finding and prosecuting those who access this material and perpetuate harm towards our community's most vulnerable - our children."
The man was charged with:
- One count of soliciting child abuse material using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth);
- One count of transmitting an indecent communication to a child under the age of 16 years; contrary to section 474.22 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth); and
- One count of causing material to be transmitted to himself using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth).
The maximum penalty for each of these 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.
