News Centre

A Butler man appeared before Perth Magistrates Court today (26 March, 2025), charged with allegedly possessing, accessing and transmitting child abuse material.

The Western Australia Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (WA JACET) yesterday (25 March, 2025) executed a search warrant and arrested the man, 34, at his home.

Inquiries had begun when the AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) received information as part of an investigation into people allegedly transmitting child abuse material online.

Investigators located five devices, including mobile phones, which allegedly contained videos of child abuse material. Forensic examination of the devices is ongoing.

The man charged with:

• One count of possessing child abuse material accessed or obtained using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22A of the Criminal Code (Cth);
• One count of using a carriage service to access child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22 of the Criminal Code (Cth); and
• One count of using a carriage service to transmit child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth). The maximum penalty for each offence is 15 years' imprisonment.

The man is expected to face Perth Magistrates Court again on 9 May, 2025.

AFP Inspector Andrea Coleman said the AFP was dedicated to stamping out child sexual abuse and bringing those who committed these horrific offences before the courts.

"Our investigators and partners are relentless in their pursuit of anyone involved in the exploitation or abuse of children, including those who share or access child abuse material," Insp Coleman said.

"But we need the community's help to ensure we are effective in identifying perpetrators and their victims.

"If you have information that could help law enforcement, please report it to the ACCCE or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000."

The AFP and its partners are committed to stopping child exploitation and abuse and the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (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 on 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 online child sexual exploitation is, 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.