Two to face court on child exploitation charges

A 50-year-old Wanniassa man and a 66-year-old Franklin man are due to face the ACT Magistrates Court at a later date on child exploitation related offences.

The men were arrested last week by members of the ACT Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (ACT-JACET).

Police executed search warrants at each of the men’s residences.

The Wanniassa man has been charged with using a carriage service to access child abuse material and possess or control child abuse material obtained or accessed using a carriage service.

Police will allege images of child exploitation were located on his computer.

The man received Watch House bail to appear in the ACT Magistrates Court in June 2020.

The Franklin man has been charged with possess or control child abuse material obtained or accessed using a carriage service. Police will allege images of child exploitation images were located on his computer.

The man received Watch House bail to appear in court in June 2020.

The ACT JACET continues to tirelessly target those who would seek to exploit children who are the most vulnerable of our community. The protection of children remains a high priority for the AFP, the ACCCE and State and Territory Police Australia-wide with new resources and an online safety challenge launched yesterday.

Members of the public who have any information about people involved in child abuse are urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or via the Crime Stoppers ACT website.  Information can be provided anonymously.

Note to media:

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