Man arrested following the discovery of child abuse material

A 65-year-old Amaroo man has been charged with possessing child abuse material following a police operation yesterday (Tuesday, 28 February 2023).   

In October 2022, members of the ACT Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (JACET) began investigating a series of IP addresses associated with downloading child abuse materials.  

After months of investigation, JACET officers executed a search warrant at an Amaroo residence where officers found DVDs, USBs, laptops, external hard drives and a computer containing up to 500,000 child abuse files.  

Some of these items were hidden throughout the residence.  

The man was subsequently arrested and has been charged with possessing child abuse material. Bail will be opposed.   

Several items were seized and are yet to be fully examined.

Conviction of the existing charges is punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of 15 years. 

Anyone with information regarding the accessing or creation of child abuse material is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or via the Crime Stoppers ACT website.  

Information can be provided anonymously. 

Media enquiries  

Police Media — (02) 5126 9070, act-police-media@afp.gov.au  

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Note to media: USE OF TERM ‘CHILD ABUSE MATERIAL’, NOT ‘CHILD PORNOGRAPHY’  

Use of the phrase “child pornography” 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.  

Each photograph captures an actual situation where a child has been abused. This is not ‘pornography”.  

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