A 69-year-old Goonda man has been charged with child sex offences following investigations by Argos.
It will be alleged that the man engaged with the online profile of a teenage boy, which was an undercover officer from Argos.
During the engagement, it will be alleged the man sent an indecent image to the child's profile and discussed meeting for the purpose of engaging in sexual acts.
The man was arrested yesterday following the execution of a search warrant at a Goodna residence.
He has been released on strict bail conditions to next appear in the Ipswich Magistrates Court on 18 January 2023.The Queensland Police Service is committed to the prevention and proactive detection of the online exploitation of children.
Detective Inspector Glen Donaldson of Argos said that despite everything we know about online safety, children continue to engage in unsafe practices such as engaging with strangers and sending intimate images of themselves.
"Research by the Commonwealth eSafety Commissioner has identified that 1 in 4 children have been approached by a stranger online. This is extremely concerning and highlights the need for parents to be aware of their child's online footprint and to speak with their child about online safety.
"Every day Argos has undercover officers working across a range of online platforms to detect and apprehend people who seek to exploit children in our community.
"Supervision is the key to prevention, as is ongoing communication with children about how to stay safe online and the dangers of having online 'friends' they have never met face-to-face.
"Parents seeking support in educating themselves about online safety are urged to visit the fantastic resources of the eSafety Commissioner and the Queensland Family and Child Commission. These resources help parents start the conversation about online safety and what children can do when they feel unsafe and how to make the right decisions about their digital footprint", Detective Inspector Donaldson said.
The responsibility of protecting children is everybody's responsibility. All members of society need to play a part in ensuring children are nurtured and safe and have an adult they can seek support from.
Parents, carers, professionals and community members all need to hear what children say and seek advice in ensuring they respond appropriately to children when they speak out about abuse or feeling unsafe.
Resources and advice
- eSafety Commissioner a key partner of the QPS in enhancing online safety, with a comprehensive suite of information, resources and reporting tools to ensure children have a safe experience online.
- Who's chatting to your kids? Further QPS advice and information about reducing online risks for children.
- Out of the dark #doiknowu a campaign by the Queensland Family and Child Commission (QFCC) supported by the QPS and Department of Education, providing resources to help young people stay safe online.
- Think U Know is a partnership between Australian Federal Police, Commonwealth Bank, Datacom, Microsoft, State and Territory Police and Neighbourhood Watch. It provides information on topics including sexting, cyber bullying, online child exploitation, online privacy, and what to do when something goes wrong.
