Detectives from the Joint Anti-Child Exploitation Team (JACET) have arrested a 17-year-old male for possessing child abuse material.
Northern Territory Police and Australian Federal Police (AFP) executed a search warrant at a residence on Tuesday 6 October 2020. During the search, police located electronic items and online accounts that allegedly contained child abuse material.
The male has been charged with:
• access child abuse material through a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth).
• possession or control of child abuse material accessed through a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22A of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth).
He is due to face local court on 17 November 2020.
Detective Sergeant Paul Lawson said, “Our presence in the online environment is growing, if you are involved in this type of exploitation, it’s only a matter of time before we come knocking on your door.”
AFP Northern Command Detective Superintendent Paula Hudson said alarmingly the appetite for child exploitation material is increasing every day, and it is not unusual for police to investigate matters involving alleged perpetrators who are teenagers or young adults.
“This case and the arrest of a 20-year-old near Katherine on Thursday is a reminder that there is no single profile of a child sex offender – they can be any age or gender and be found in a range of occupations,” she said.
“Our members will investigate and prosecute anyone involved in the exploitation or abuse of children – no matter their age or where they may live.”
JACET is a taskforce bringing together the NT Police and AFP to combat online child exploitation, as part of a collaborative and coordinated national platform for policing agencies to address the abhorrent activity associated with child exploitation.
Anyone with information relating to people involved in child abuse and exploitation is urged to contact CrimeStoppers on 1800 333 000.
You can also make a report online by alerting the Australian Centre of Counter Child Exploitation via the Report Abuse button.
