A 27-year-old Tasmanian man has been charged with child abuse material offences, after the Tasmanian Joint Anti-Child Exploitation Team (JACET) executed a search warrant at his home this morning.
Investigators arrested the man at his Goodwood property, seizing a number of electronic items including a tablet and a mobile phone.
Police will allege in court the man uploaded and shared child exploitation material via the Kik social media platform.
Investigators became aware of the alleged sharing of child abuse material following an intelligence report received by the AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE).
The man has been charged with using a carriage service to access child abuse material. He is expected to face the Hobart Magistrates’ Court this afternoon.
AFP Detective Sergeant Aaron Hardcastle said the Tasmania Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team is working around-the-clock with our international and domestic partners to bring to justice those who seek to do harm to our children through shared online sexual abuse material.
“Every image and every video is a child being horrifically abused and that abuse will stay with them for life. This material is repulsive and the Tasmania JACET will find those who support this industry by sharing this abhorrent material and put them before the courts,” he said.
The 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 at www.accce.gov.au/report.
