The Australian Federal Police has charged two 24-year-old Western Sydney men for online child abuse offences. The two men are due to appear before Campbelltown Local Court today (4 September 2020).
In June 2020, the AFP Eastern Command Child Protections Operation (CPO) team began an investigation following a report from the AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) into an online user allegedly accessing and sharing child abuse material.
The investigation resulted in AFP officers executing a search warrant at a residential premises in the Campbelltown area yesterday (3 September 2020). Police seized multiple electronic devices, including mobile phones and laptops.
A 24-year-old man residing at the premises was charged with:
- Three counts of possessing child abuse material obtained or accessed using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22A of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth); and
- Two counts of using a carriage service to transmit make available, publish, distribute, advertise or promote material, contrary to section 474.22(1)(a)(iii) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth).
The other 24-year-old man residing at the premises was charged with two counts of the first offence listed above (section 474.22A) and one count of the second offence (section 474.22(1)(a)(iii)).
The men face a maximum penalty of 15 years' imprisonment for each offence.
AFP Detective Sergeant Child Protection Operations Joel Wheeler said each image accessed or shared online shows a complete disregard to the emotional and physical harm every victim of online child abuse experiences.
"The term 'consent' is not - in any shape or form - possible within this abhorrent industry. The children forced into these unimaginable situations are continually re-victimised through every access and share," he said.
"The consequences are extreme and lasting, whether you share one image or a hundred, and like these two men, you risk spending the next 15 years of your life in prison."
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.
