Queensland man to face child abuse charges
Richard Dinnen - Queensland Editor |
Australian Federal Police (AFP) have charged a Queensland man with three counts of child abuse-related offences after a tip from a U.S child protection agency.
The 65-year-old from Bellbird Park, was charged by the Brisbane Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team and was due to appear in the Brisbane Magistrates.
The investigation began in June, when the AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) received a report from the United States National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) about an online user uploading child abuse material using the Kik messenger platform.
AFP investigators allegedly linked the man to the illegal online activity.
They executed a search warrant at the man’s home earlier this month, seizing a laptop and several USBs for forensic examination.
The man has been charged with possessing child abuse material accessed or obtained using a carriage service and possessing child exploitation material.
AFP Constable Tom Clayworth said the arrest was another reminder of the prevalence of online child abuse.
“Unfortunately, online child abuse material is not rare, and is a focus for the AFP and other law enforcement agencies who continue to work tirelessly to identify and prosecute those preying on children.”
Research conducted by the ACCCE in 2020 revealed only half of parents talked to their children about online safety.
Last year, the ACCCE launched a podcast called Closing The Net, offering tips and advice to keep children safe online.
