Detective Sergeant Daisie Beckensall bears witness to some of humanity's darkest corners through her role with the AFP's Manila Child Protection team. But in helping to give vulnerable children back their future, she sees firsthand the importance of the team's work.
A member of the AFP since 1999, Det Sgt Beckensall has been in Manila, Philippines, for almost four years as a liaison officer (Child Protection), leading a team that targets, disrupts and prosecutes predators who groom and target innocent children.
The AFP supports Philippine authorities with intelligence and resources through the Philippine Internet Crimes Against Children Centre (PICACC).
The PICACC was jointly established in 2019 by the Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine National Bureau of Investigation, AFP, UK National Crime Agency and International Justice Mission. Netherlands Police joined in 2021.
Since 2019, the PICACC has undertaken 298 operations, resulting in 795 victims being removed from harm and 172 suspects/facilitators charged.
The child abuse trade in the Philippines involves Australians as major offenders, given the Philippines has excellent internet infrastructure, a similar time zone to Australia and Filipinos speak English.
Its proximity to Australia with direct flights from Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth makes it easier for offenders to travel.
Perpetrators communicate with Filipino facilitators online, often via dating sites or Facebook, with offences committed live online.
Chasing and prosecuting offenders is heavy work. However, Det Sgt Beckensall and her team manage to find a silver lining in seeing the impacts of their efforts to protect children.
The team regularly donates clothing, toys, books and hygiene products to shelters in the Philippines that house victims of online sexual abuse and exploitation, including some who have been removed from harm as a result of AFP investigations.
Det Sgt Beckensall said it was heartbreaking to know that children, who should be focused on nothing other than friends, play or studying, were victimised in the most horrific fashion.
"The volume of children at the shelters is a reminder of the scale of the problem the AFP and its partners at the PICACC face," Det Sgt Beckensall said.
"It is our responsibility as law enforcement officers to do all we can to detect offenders before they leave Australia and bring the people who perpetrate this awful abuse to justice.
"To be able to visit the shelters, to see where the children have been sheltered from harm is comforting.
"It drives us every day. It's very rewarding working with our law enforcement partners and seeing the results of AFP-referred investigations."
Whether she's upskilling partner law enforcement officers or identifying offenders, Det Sgt Beckensall's impact in the Philippines will be felt long after her departure.
"The harm perpetrated against these children is irrevocable and, sadly, there are still too many children who remain at risk," Det Sgt Beckensall said.
"We will never give up our fight to keep children safe and stop those who try to exploit or abuse them."
The AFP and its partners are committed to stopping child exploitation and abuse and the 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.
