Man charged with child exploitation offences

ACT Policing has charged a 44-year-old Higgins man with accessing and possessing child exploitation material.

The Higgins man was arrested yesterday (12 August 2020) afternoon following an ACT Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (ACT JACET) investigation.

Members of the ACT JACET executed a search warrant at the man’s residence and allegedly located a hidden camera and child abuse material on electronic devices.

The man is due to appear before ACT Magistrates Court today where police will oppose bail.

USE OF TERM 'CHILD ABUSE', 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