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Editor's note: Images of AFP Human Exploitation Community Officers are available via Hightail.

Dedicated AFP officers specialising in victim-based crime including human trafficking and online child sexual exploitation have been deployed across Australia to boost community engagement and reporting to law enforcement, as cases of exploitation rise across the country.

The new AFP Human Exploitation Community Officers (HECOs) support the AFP Human Trafficking and Child Protection teams in providing help to vulnerable communities that may fall victim to these crimes.

The officers deliver targeted outreach and education relating to human exploitation with the aim of providing an opportunity for crime intervention, preventing the victimisation across the online child sexual exploitation and human trafficking crime types.

Between 2023-2024, reports to the AFP of human trafficking, encompassing forced marriage, servitude, forced labour, exit trafficking and slavery increased to 382, compared to 340 reports in the 2022-2023 financial year.

Reports of online child sexual exploitation to the AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) have increased yearly with more than 58,000 reports in the past financial year.

The AFP HECOs deliver targeted outreach and education to help communities to understand their rights and aim to increase reporting to police and disrupt criminal activity before it occurs.

The rollout of the HECO capability commenced in 2023 and now features five specialised officers stationed at AFP Commands across the country including in Victoria, South Australia, New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia.

Informed by AFP intelligence and real time operational outcomes, the HECOs focus support to high-risk communities that are vulnerable to human exploitation.

The officers deliver tailored information and interventions to prevent human trafficking, including forced marriage, along with engagement programs such as the AFP's ThinkUKnow, which aims to prevent online child sexual exploitation.

AFP Commander Helen Schneider said the rollout of HECOs provided a significant boost to the AFP's capability and commitment to protecting vulnerable members of the community.

"This capability provides an important opportunity for law enforcement to intervene to protect potential victims and to prevent criminal offending from occurring, and we know that education is key," Commander Schneider said.

"These officers are engaged with these high-risk and vulnerable communities. We know that victims or potential victims of human trafficking and slavery offences may not actually understand the crimes that have been committed against them, or they may not even identify as victims."

HECO scenario examples of community engagement and intervention

Online child sexual exploitation

• The HECOs will engage with relevant stakeholders in the community to ensure the delivery of important prevention and response messaging to minimise the impacts of online child sexual exploitation within vulnerable communities.
• Resources will be utilised to offer education opportunities as well as community engagement to strengthen the relationships between these vulnerable groups and law enforcement.
• Resources will address topics such as online grooming and sextortion to assist the community in identifying unsafe situations and to encourage them to seek help and support when needed.
• ACCCE intelligence suggests approximately only 12 per cent of victims report to law enforcement highlighting the need for targeted education and awareness opportunities around the theme of online child sexual exploitation.

Forced marriage

• The AFP will engage with schools following multiple reports of persons suspected to be at risk of forced marriage.
• The HECO will deliver presentations and resources on human trafficking with a focus on forced marriage and options available to seek assistance.