Gold Coast child protection detectives have arrested two men as part of separate investigations into child exploitation material (CEM) and online offences against minors.
In conjunction with Taskforce Argos, Gold Coast Child Protection and Investigation Unit (CPIU) officers yesterday charged a 36-year-old Southport man after detectives executed a search warrant at an address there in relation to the production of child exploitation material (CEM).
He was charged with one count of making CEM and is due to appear in the Southport Magistrates Court on January 13.
In an unrelated investigation, Gold Coast CPIU detectives in a joint operation with Inala detectives executed a search warrant at an Oxley address and seized and examined numerous electronic devices.
A 20-year-old Oxley man was charged with one count of Using the Internet to Procure a child and will appear in a Brisbane court.
Queensland’s young people need to be aware of the dangers of ‘sexting’ and talking to strangers online.
Gold Coast CPIU Acting Inspector Greg Aubort said parents should find what their children are doing on the internet.
“Often our young people can get caught up in the moment and swap explicit images of each other completely unaware of the criminal offence of creating and distributing this type of material,” Detective Acting Inspector Aubort said.
“Often they’re also unaware of exactly who they are talking – having simply ‘befriended’ a stranger online that might seek to draw them in for less than innocent reasons.”
Child exploitation material by definition can include imagery such as cartoons or written words that describes or depicts a child under 16 years in a sexual context or subjected to abuse.
Anyone with information which could assist with this matter should contact Crime Stoppers anonymously via 1800 333 000 or crimestoppers.com.au 24hrs a day.
Crime Stoppers is a registered charity and community volunteer organisation working in partnership with the Queensland Police Service.
For all non-urgent police reporting or general police inquiries contact Policelink on 131 444 or Policelink.qld.gov.au 24hrs a day.