Clermont man arrested over alleged child exploitation offences
A Central Queensland man has been arrested as part of an undercover operation investigating serious child exploitation allegations. DETAILS.
Police & Courts
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A Central Queensland man has been arrested after he allegedly spoke of sex abuse acts on children in online chats with who he believed was the mother of a 12-year-old girl.
Instead, the online profile belonged to undercover Task Force Argos officer as part of a joint operation with Mackay Child Protection Investigation Unit and Moranbah Criminal Investigation Branch.
On Monday, police revealed in a statement the investigation began on November 8, 2022.
Police allege during the conversation, the man made plans to travel to Brisbane, meet and engage in sexual acts with a 12-year-old child.
Officers raided the man’s Dysart accommodation on November 11 seizing items including a phone allegedly detailing communications between him and the undercover officer.
Police also searched his Clermont home on November 12 where another device was seized and examined – it is alleged to contain child exploitation material.
The 31-year-old was charged with using the internet to procure a child under 16 years and possessing child exploitation material.
Detective Senior Sergeant Emma Novosel said the case highlighted the ever-present risk children faced from online predators and the key role parents and caregivers played in teaching children about online safety.
The Mackay CPIU officer in charge said Commonwealth eSafety Commissioner research identified that “one in four children have been approached by a stranger online”.
“The research also shows that over 90 per cent of teens regularly use internet connected devices – which highlights the need for parents to be aware of their child’s online footprint and to speak with them about online safety,” she said.
“Supervision is key to prevention, as is ongoing communication with children about how to stay safe online and the dangers of having online ‘friends’ they have never met face-to-face”.
“Every day Argos has undercover officers working in a range of online platforms to detect and apprehend people who seek to exploit children in our community.
“To those that seek to engage in this predatory behaviour, just remember that the next ‘child’ that you message may be a police officer.”