Detectives from the Northern Territory Joint Anti-Child Exploitation Team (JACET) have arrested a 51-year-old man for possessing child abuse material.
Northern Territory Police and the Australian Federal Police (AFP) executed a search warrant at a residence in Johnston on Thursday 12 November 2020. During the search, police located electronic items and online accounts that allegedly contained child abuse material.
The man 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)
- Access child pornography - s474.19 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth).
He is due to appear in court today.
NT Police Detective Sergeant Paul Lawson said, "Our presence in the online environment is growing, if you are involved in the e-crime of exploiting children, it's only a matter of time before we come knocking on your door. Every unlawful picture viewed is an offence committed upon a child".
The Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) is committed to stopping child exploitation and abuse and is at the centre of a collaborative national approach to combatting organised child abuse.
The AFP-led Centre brings together specialist expertise and skills in a central hub, supporting investigations into child sexual abuse and developing prevention strategies focused on creating a safer online environment.
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.
