This is a joint media release between the Australian Federal Police and South Australia Police
A South Australian man is expected to face Adelaide Magistrates Court yesterday (6 June, 2023) charged with child abuse-related offences.
The South Australia Joint Anti-Child Exploitation Team (SA JACET), which comprises AFP and SA Police, commenced an investigation in January 2023 after a member of the public alerted investigators to alleged child abuse material on an electronic device.
SA JACET searched an Everard Park residence on 23 January 2023 where they allegedly located numerous amounts of child abuse material on electronic devices. Police seized several electronic devices for further forensic examination, including a desktop computer and external hard drives.
SA JACET identified the alleged owner of the devices was travelling overseas at the time.
When the man, 67, returned to Australia on 5 June, 2023, SA JACET officers arrested him and charged him with three counts of possessing or controlling child abuse material obtained or accessed using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22A of the Criminal Code (Cth).
The maximum penalty for the offence is 15 years' imprisonment.
AFP Sergeant Joe Barry said the arrest was another reminder of the prevalence of online child sexual abuse.
"Anyone who views or shares images or videos of children being exploited or abused creates the demand for others to physically harm and traumatise children," he said.
"The AFP and law enforcement partners are committed to protecting children no matter where they live and stopping those involved in their harm.
"The community's assistance is also critical and we are grateful for any reports about suspicious behaviour."
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 at www.accce.gov.au/report. 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 at www.accce.gov.au/support.
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 www.thinkuknow.org.au, an AFP-led education program designed to prevent online child sexual exploitation.
