This is a joint release between Australian Federal Police and Northern Territory Police
A 56-year-old man is expected to face Darwin Local Court today (Monday, 15 June) over allegations he accessed and shared child abuse material online.
The Australian Federal Police's Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) triage unit launched an investigation after a report from the United States' National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).
It alleged an Australian internet user was transmitting child abuse material via social media.
Inquiries identified a 56-year-old Darwin man as the person suspected of transmitting the material.
The matter was referred to the Northern Territory Joint Anti-Child Exploitation Team (NT JACET) and on Friday, 12 June, police executed search warrants and seized mobile telephones, an external hard disk drive and laptop computer from the man.
Police will allege a preliminary search of the devices found online communications relating to child abuse material.
The man has been charged with five offences:
- One count of possession of child abuse material, contrary to section 125B of the Criminal Code Act 1983 (NT). This carries a maximum penalty of 10 years' imprisonment;
- Four counts of transmitting child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth). This offence carries a maximum penalty of 15 years' imprisonment.
A detailed digital forensic examination is ongoing.
Australian Federal Police Child Protection Operations Detective Superintendent Paula Hudson said the demand for abhorrent content online drives the exploitation and abuse of real children.
"Alarmingly the appetite for child exploitation material is increasing and somewhere in the world innocent young children are harmed to satisfy those depraved criminal demands," Detective Superintendent Paula Hudson said.
"We want to assure that public that the COVID pandemic lockdowns have not stopped our relentless pursuit of anyone involved in the abuse of children, whether online or elsewhere."
NT Police Detective Sergeant Paul Lawson said the Northern Territory Police and the Australian Federal Police will continue to target those who commit these offences and believe that they can hide behind the anonymity of the internet.
"We will continue to work in partnership to keep all our children safe," he said.
The AFP-led ACCCE, which is headquartered in Brisbane, is committed to stopping child exploitation and abuse and is at the centre of a collaborative national approach to combatting organised child abuse.
It 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 at www.accce.gov.au/report.
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