Cairns man charged over alleged child abuse material offences

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Vision from the search warrant can be downloaded from Hightail.

A 50-year-old Cairns man charged with child abuse material offences is due to face court today (Tuesday, 27 October) after an Australian Federal Police (AFP) investigation.

The Cairns Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (JACET) began its investigation after receiving a report from the German National Police as part of their investigation of the sharing of child abuse material on the Dark Web.

On October 1, 2020 investigators from the Cairns JACET executed a search warrant at the man's home in the Cairns suburb of Manoora.

Three mobile phones were seized for digital forensic analysis. It will be alleged a review of the man's devices and online accounts identified them as containing child abuse material.

The man was charged on the same day with possessing child abuse material obtained through a carriage service contrary to section 474.22A Criminal Code (Cth). The maximum penalty for the offence is 15 years imprisonment.

AFP Child Protection Operations Detective Superintendent Paula Hudson said law enforcement is working globally to target people who access or share child abuse material.

"We work closely with international partners to share intelligence and offenders who share this abhorrent material will be brought out from behind their computers and into the courts to face the full force of the law," Detective Superintendent Hudson said.

The AFP-led 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 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.

Note to media:

Use of term 'CHILD ABUSE' MATERIAL NOT 'CHILD PORNOGRAPHY'

The correct legal term is Child Abuse Material - the move to this wording was among amendments to Commonwealth legislation in 2019 to more accurately reflect the gravity of the crimes and the harm inflicted on victims.

Use of the phrase "child pornography" is inaccurate and benefits child sex abusers because it:

indicates legitimacy and compliance on the part of the victim and therefore legality on the part of the abuser; and conjures images of children posing in 'provocative' positions, rather than suffering horrific abuse.

Every photograph or video captures an actual situation where a child has been abused.

Media enquiries

AFP Media: (02) 5126 9297

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