This is a joint media release between the Australian Federal Police and Victoria Police
A 44-year-old Melbourne man is scheduled to appear before Melbourne Magistrates Court today (26 September 2019) to face charges relating to the possession of child abuse material.
The man came to the attention of the Victorian Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (VIC-JACET) following multiple reports from the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) relating to the alleged access and transmission of child abuse material online.
On 25 September 2019, VIC-JACET members attended a premises at the Melbourne suburb of Fairfield where the man was located. The police seized a mobile phone which allegedly contained child abuse material.
The man was arrested and charged with possessing child abuse material obtained using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22A of the Criminal Code Act 1995.
He has become the first person charged since the new Combatting Child Sexual Exploitation Legislation Amendment Bill 2019 came into effect last Saturday (21 September 2019).
AFP Acting State Manager Victoria & Tasmania Detective Superintendent Jayne Crossling said the arrest shows the VIC-JACET's tireless commitment to investigating and prosecuting child exploitation matters to the full extent of the law.
"The AFP and Victoria Police are working with domestic and international partners to identify people involved in this vile behaviour and bring some sense of justice to its vulnerable victims," Detective Superintendent Crossling said.
"This arrest should serve as another warning to the community: if you are thinking about accessing or sharing child exploitation material, you will be caught eventually."
The man attended Melbourne Magistrates Night Court on 25 September 2019 where no application for bail was made.
He was remanded in custody to 26 September 2019 at Melbourne Magistrates Court for a filing hearing.
