NT, AFP pledge to track down predators as child abuse arrests and charges nationwide skyrocket

Several alleged NT online predators have been arrested and charged in recent months and the joint taskforce investigating child abuse has pledged to continue tracking them down.

SEVEN alleged Territory online predators have been arrested and charged in the past six months and the leaders of a joint taskforce investigating child abuse have pledged to continue hunting other people lurking on the internet.

Since January this year seven Top End men have been arrested and charged with a range of alleged child abuse offences.

A further 19 search warrants were executed in the NT and in Queensland between January and March this year, resulting in 15 arrests for a total of 45 charges in Operation May.

The operation by the Joint Anti-Child Exploitation Team (JACET), with members from the NT, Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Queensland as well as the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE), targeted online predators attempting to procure children through internet chat lines.

In 2020 six instances of ­alleged child abuse offences resulting in arrests were publicly reported in the NT.

Across Australia in the 2020-21 financial year, the AFP and JACETs arrested 235 alleged offenders and charged them with 2772 charges. The total charges against offenders spiked 130 per cent, up from 1214 in 2019-20.

Arrests increased 46 per cent, up from 161. Kids Helpline also recorded a 40 per cent surge in reports of child sexual abuse in the first six months of 2021, compared with the same period in 2020.

NT Police Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Jon Beer said officers would continue to crack down on this behaviour, with the public urged to stay alert and informed.

“It is important to recognise an unsafe situation, any situation where you feel uncomfortable is unsafe,” he said.

“React to the situation by getting away from danger, make noise or running and finding a safe place or person.

“Report the situation to a parent, family member or another trusted adult or police officer.

“We will continue to the best of our ability to bring the perpetrators of these crimes to account.”

University of Melbourne lecturer in criminology Dr Dave McDonald said research found child sexual abuse was far more common than many assume.

“The bulk of this ­occurs in family contexts or other circumstances in which perpetrators are known to ­victims,” he said. “Over recent years we have learnt a lot about the role of institutions such as schools, sporting clubs and churches.

“Offending that occurs through the internet or dark web can be an extension of this, or it can take a somewhat different form. For example, victims and offenders might be geographically removed from one another.

“Crime adapts to technological innovation so it is unsurprising to see a pattern of cases in which alleged perpetrators have relied on the internet and dark web to facilitate their offending.”

Last week the ACCCE launched the Stop The Stigma initiative, a national project designed to help end public stigma about child abuse.

“We must open the discussion about child sexual abuse so we can reduce the stigma and build awareness about a heinous crime that is far too prevalent,” AFP Assistant Commissioner Northern Command Lesa Gale said.

Dr McDonald says part of recognising how prevalent child sexual abuse is understanding the misconceptions.

“We know children can be exploited online. What is often less understood however, is that they are much more likely to be exploited by someone who is known to them,” he said.

“Understanding the scope and contours of the problem means that we can be better equipped as a society to respond to abuse when it does occur, and hopefully also prevent it from occurring in the first place.”

Anyone aware of in appropriate behaviour towards children can report it at: accce.gov.au/report

Originally published as NT, AFP pledge to track down predators as child abuse arrests and charges nationwide skyrocket