Adelaide man faces eight charges over child abuse material

This is a joint release between Australian Federal Police and South Australia Police.

A 29-year-old man accused of accessing and sharing child abuse material is expected to face Adelaide Magistrates Court today (19 August 2020) on eight charges.

The South Australia Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (SA JACET) arrested and charged the man on 11 June (2020) after searching his suburban Adelaide home and allegedly finding child abuse material on electronic devices.

SA JACET had launched an investigation in May (2020) after a report from the Australian Federal Police-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) about an Adelaide man suspected of obtaining videos of girls being sexually abused.

The man is due to appear in court for the first time today on eight charges:

• One count of possession or control of child abuse material obtained or accessed using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22A of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth);
• Three counts of using a carriage service to access child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22 (1)(a)(i) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth).
• Four counts of using a carriage service to transmit child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22 (1)(a)(iii) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth).

The maximum penalty for these offences is 15 years' imprisonment.

SA JACET, which comprises AFP and South Australia Police officers, arrested 89 people last financial year (2019-20) for child abuse-related offences, ranging from possessing child abuse material to contact offending.

A total of 52 children, in Australia and overseas, have been saved from harm over that period as a result of the arrests.

AFP Central Command Acting Commander Gail McClure said the growing online demand for abusive material drives the sickening physical harm of children. "Every photo or video circulating online shows a child having their innocence forcibly taken," she said.

"Anyone accessing this horrific material is complicit in the abuse as each image is a crime scene.

"The AFP and SA Police are working tirelessly to protect children and bring to justice anyone who seeks to harm them."

South Australia Police Detective Superintendent Mark Wieszyk, Officer in Charge of the Public Protection Branch, said "the South Australia Police is committed to working with the AFP in combatting child exploitation in its many forms and will continue to do so".

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.

Note to media:

Use of term 'CHILD ABUSE' MATERIAL NOT 'CHILD PORNOGRAPHY'

The correct legal term is Child Abuse Material – the move to this wording was among amendments to Commonwealth legislation in 2019, and more accurately reflect the gravity of the crimes and the harm inflicted on victims.

Use of the phrase "child pornography" is inaccurate and 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 or video captures an actual situation where a child has been abused.

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