Move FM Regional news

A 42-year-old Sydney man is due to appear before Blacktown Local Court today (21 January 2022) after being charged as part of an Australian Federal Police investigation into the upload of child abuse material.

Investigators from the Eastern Command Child Protection Operations team executed a search warrant at the man’s home in Prospect yesterday (20 January 2022) following a report from the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) about an Australian user uploading child abuse material online.

AFP officers examined a mobile device seized during the search warrant, which allegedly contained child abuse material images and text messages traded on a social media application.

The man was arrested at his home and subsequently charged with:

One count of possess or control child abuse material obtained or accessed using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22A of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth); and One count of transmit, make available, publish, distribute or promote child pornography material using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.19(1)(a)(iii) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth).

The maximum penalty for these offences is 15 years’ imprisonment and 10 years’ imprisonment, respectively.

Notes to media

Media are reminded of their obligations under s15A of the Children (Criminal Proceedings) Act 1987 (NSW) and s105 of the Children and Young Person (Care and Protection) Act 1998 (NSW).

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 to 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.

Media enquiries

AFP Media: (02) 5126 9297