Hawker man charged with child abuse material offences

ARRESTED Child exploitation offences

A 33-year-old Hawker man is due to appear in the ACT Magistrates Court today (Thursday, 30 July 2020) after being charged with possessing suspected child sexual abuse material.

On 17 June 2020, police received information regarding the uploading and transmission of child sexual abuse material via social media.

Following an investigation by officers from ACT Policing’s Joint Anti-Child Exploitation Team, a search warrant was executed at a residence in Hawker yesterday (29 July).

During this warrant activity, child sexual abuse material was allegedly located on the man’s mobile phone, and on several digital storage devices.

He was arrested and charged with possession of child abuse material and using a carriage service to access child abuse material.

Members of the public who have any information about people involved in the possession or sharing of child exploitation material 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.

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.

Every photograph captures an actual situation where a child has been abused. This is not "pornography".

Media enquiries

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

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