A Sydney man and woman are each facing four online child abuse and bestiality-related offences following their arrest by the AFP Child Protection Operations team yesterday (14 September 2022).
The man, 31, and the woman, 24, are expected to appear in Campbelltown Local Court today (15 September 2022). The man also briefly faced court yesterday afternoon, where bail was not applied for and was formally refused.
Police allegedly identified the man during an investigation into a report from the United States' Homeland Security Investigations about a user on a cloud storage platform accessing, soliciting and transmitting child abuse material.
AFP investigators executed a search warrant at the man's home yesterday, where the woman also lives.
Police allegedly found child abuse material on electronic devices belonging to each of them and have seized the devices for further forensic examination.
AFP Detective Sergeant Navi Pandher said the AFP and its international law enforcement partners were committed to protecting children, wherever they lived.
"Anyone who views or shares this material creates the demand for real children to be sexually abused and exploited," Detective Sergeant Pandher said.
"We are working tirelessly to keep children safe and identify and prosecute anyone contributing to their harm."
The man and woman were each charged with:
- One count of possess or control child abuse material obtained or accessed using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22A of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth);
- One count of transmit, make available, publish, distribute or promote child abuse material using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22(1) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth);
- One count of access child abuse material using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22(1)(a)(i) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth); and
- One count of possess bestiality material, contrary to section 547E of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW).
The maximum penalty for the Commonwealth offences is 15 years' imprisonment.
The AFP and its partners are committed to stopping child exploitation and abuse and the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation 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 and exploitation are urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www.accce.gov.au/report. If you know abuse is happening right now or a child is at risk, call police immediately on 000.
Research conducted by the ACCCE in 2020 revealed only about half of parents talked to their children about online safety.
An award-winning podcast launched last year by the ACCCE 'Closing The Net' is working to change that, showcasing that knowledge is power and that our only chance to help prevent this issue is if we bring a 'whole-of-community' response.
The podcast series offers valuable tips and advice on how to keep kids safe online. Listen to the Closing The Net podcast on your favourite streaming platform.
If you or someone you know are impacted by child sexual abuse and online exploitation there are support services available at www.accce.gov.au/support.
Advice and support for parents and carers about how they can help protect children online can be found at www.thinkuknow.org.au, an AFP-led education program designed to prevent online child sexual exploitation.
