Media Release
Clarence Valley man charged with possessing child abuse material
A NSW man is expected to appear in Grafton Local Court today (7 January, 2025) charged with two counts of possessing child abuse material.
AFP investigators allegedly identified the man, 21, during an investigation into a report regarding child abuse material (CAM) being available for purchase online.
A search warrant was executed at the man’s Clarence Valley home on Wednesday, 18 December, 2024, with investigators allegedly finding child abuse material on electronic devices. The devices were seized for further forensic examination.
The man was charged with two counts of possessing child abuse material accessed or obtained using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22A of the Criminal Code (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is 15 years' imprisonment.
The man was granted police bail and is scheduled to reappear in Grafton Local Court today (7 January, 2025).
AFP Detective Acting Inspector Emmanuel Tsardoulias said the arrest was another reminder of the prevalence of online child abuse.
"Our investigators will continue to work tirelessly in 2025 alongside our partners to protect children, wherever they live,” Det-A/Insp Tsardoulias said.
“Law enforcement is committed to ensuring ensure anyone who tries to harm children or seeks to profit from this heinous crime is identified and brought before the courts.
“If you have information that could help law enforcement, please contact the AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) at https://www.accce.gov.au/report.”
About the ACCCE
The AFP and its partners are committed to stopping child exploitation and abuse and the ACCCE is driving a collaborative national approach to combatting child abuse.
The ACCCE brings together specialist expertise and skills in a central hub, supporting investigations into online child sexual exploitation and developing prevention strategies focused on creating a safer online environment.
Members of the public who have information about people involved in child abuse are urged to contact the ACCCE. If you know abuse is happening right now or a child is at risk, call police immediately on 000.
If you or someone you know is impacted by child sexual abuse and online exploitation, support services are available.
Research conducted by the ACCCE in 2020 revealed only about half of parents talked to their children about online safety. Advice and support for parents and carers about how they can help protect children online can be found at the ThinkUKnow website, an AFP-led education program designed to prevent online child sexual exploitation.
For more information on the role of the ACCCE, what is online child sexual exploitation and how to report it visit the ACCCE website.
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 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.
