A West Australian man is expected to appear in Northbridge Magistrates Court today (21 September, 2024) charged with two online child abuse material offences.
The Western Australia Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (WA JACET) arrested and charged the man, 32, yesterday (20 September, 2024) after receiving a report from the Australian Border Force (ABF) about a user accessing and transmitting child abuse material online.
ABF officers at Perth International Airport allegedly found child abuse material on the man's mobile phone after he landed on a flight from Denpasar, Bali yesterday. The matter was then referred to the WA JACET team.
Officers from ABF and the WA JACET, comprising of members from the AFP and Western Australia Police Force, allegedly linked the man to the illegal online activity.
A search of the man's electronic devices allegedly uncovered child abuse material.
The man was subsequently charged with:
- Possessing child exploitation material, contrary to section 474.22A Criminal Code 1995 (Cth); and
- Accessing child exploitation material, contrary to section 474.22(1) Criminal Code 1995 (Cth).
The maximum penalty for these offences is 15 years' imprisonment.
AFP Detective Superintendent Peter Chwal said the AFP worked closely with both domestic and international partners, such as ABF, to help protect children.
"Our investigators work tirelessly to identify offenders to ensure they are prosecuted," Det Supt Chwal said.
"Our message to online offenders has not changed - if you procure, access and transmit child abuse material, you will be found, arrested and prosecuted.
"Whether the crime is committed in Australia or overseas - the AFP is committed to ensuring vulnerable children are not exploited or victimised."
ABF Superintendent Aviation Operations Vesna Gavranich said ABF officers worked tirelessly at the front line of Australia's border at international airports to protect children, both here and overseas from child abuse and exploitation.
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.
