A 48-year-old Paddington man has been charged with child sex offences following investigations by detectives from Argos.
The man was arrested yesterday morning at an inner-city shopping precinct by Argos detectives with the support of the Public Safety Response Team. It will be alleged the man attended centre on the pretext of meeting another adult to organise a sexual encounter with a child.
Following further examination of his mobile device after he was arrested, detectives located a quantity of child exploitation material.
The investigation commenced in June when it will be alleged the man contacted an undercover Argos detective on an internet forum where he arranged to meet and access a child for sex.
The 48-year-old man has been charged with one count of using the internet to procure a child under 16, one count of using a carriage service to access child abuse material and one count of possessing child exploitation material.
The man will next appear before the Brisbane Magistrates Court on 13 November 2024.
Detective Chief Inspector Glen Donaldson of the Child Abuse and Sexual Crime Group's unit Argos said the arrest reflects the proactive stance of the Queensland Police Service in the fight against child exploitation and demonstrates the lengths police will go to safeguard children in our community.
"Our undercover operations are designed to identify offenders before they can harm children, and we will leave no stone unturned in our pursuit of these individuals", Detective Inspector Donaldson said.
"The internet presents unique dangers for young people, and we urge parents and guardians to be vigilant about their children's online interactions and digital footprint.
"It is also essential that our children have a trusted adult that they can confide in if they are worried about an online experience or feeling unsafe".
Resources and advice
- Who's chatting to your kids? Further QPS advice and information about reducing online risks for children.
- eSafety Commissioner a key partner of the QPS in enhancing online safety, with a comprehensive suite of information, resources and reporting tools to ensure children have a safe experience online.
- Out of the dark #doiknowu a campaign by the Queensland Family and Child Commission (QFCC) supported by the QPS and Department of Education, providing resources to help young people stay safe online.
- Think U Know is a partnership between Australian Federal Police, Commonwealth Bank, Datacom, Microsoft, State and Territory Police and Neighbourhood Watch. It provides information on topics including sexting, cyber bullying, online child exploitation, online privacy, and what to do when something goes wrong.
