More police for Child Exploitation Internet Unit

NSW Police has been forced to add 10 detectives to its child exploitation internet unit to cope with “outrageous attempts” to exploit kids online during lockdown.

Ten extra detectives have bolstered the Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad’s Child Exploitation Internet Unit ranks to deal with the rising number of predators taking advantage of children’s online use during lockdown.

The total number of detectives in the unit is now 24, which Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad commander Jayne Doherty said gave police greater capacity to identify a growing number of offenders.

“Unfortunately these cases are continuing as children learn to use the internet more and more,’’ she said.

“Our daily lives rely on the internet so they’re becoming more exposed to it and these predators take advantage of that.’’

Det-Supt Doherty said 900 people were charged with 5000 child abuse offences last year and the unit arrested 56 people with more than 255 charges relating to online child exploitation.

Last month, the CEIU arrested four men in Sydney and Cowra over alleged online grooming offences.

“Police will allege in court that these people were engaged in sexually explicit conversations with those people and even had arranged to meet with those people for the purpose of having sex with what they thought was a child,’’ Det Doherty said.

Police Minister David Elliott said the pandemic had highlighted the dangers of internet crime “particularly people exploiting children for their own gratification online”.

“The tragedy is that, during Covid, is that children are becoming more and more obliged to spend time online through schooling, as well as entertainment and recreation,’’ he said.

“We accept that … but that has come with a challenge.

“Parents need to be aware that not everybody that is online is a friend and some of the outrageous attempts from individuals to exploit our children online using the computer and using the internet as a way of trawling through the lives of young people, and winning their confidence and getting them to do things that they particularly don’t want to do, or shouldn’t do, or shouldn’t be obliged to do, is heartbreaking.’’

Addressing the media during National Child Protection Week, Mr Elliott said the public could not assume there was one demographic exploiting children online.

You can’t assume that there’s just one gender that’s trying to exploit our children,’’ he said.

“There is no cookie-cutter when it comes to people wanting to do harm to our children and that is the importance of this week.’’

Det Doherty urged parents to engage with their children’s online activity.

“If their children don’t feel there’s something right they need to know they can tell their parents and that they’ll be heard, so make sure that you have the conversations with your children,’’ she said.

“Make sure if there’s something they’re not comfortable with, you look into it, and if you’re not comfortable with it, report it.’’

CEIU recent arrests

Four men have been charged with online grooming offences:

Menangle

In November, detectives began speaking online with a man from Sydney’s southwest. Police will allege in court the man believed he was speaking with a girl aged under 16 years and engaged in sexually explicit conversations with her, as well as sent sexually explicit material.

About 8am on August 11, Child Exploitation Internet Unit arrested a 36-year-old man at Menangle. He was taken to Narellan police station where he was charged with four counts of use carriage service to send indecent material to person under 16.

He refused bail and appeared at Picton Court on August 24, when he was refused bail to reappear at the same court on September 28.

Bidwill

In August, CEIU investigators began engaging with a man from Sydney’s west. Police will allege in court the man believed he was speaking with a girl aged under 16 years and engaged in sexually explicit conversations, sent explicit materials and made arrangements to meet her. Following inquiries, a 41-year-old man was arrested just after 11.30am at a home in Bidwill on August 12.

He was taken to Mt Druitt police station, where he was charged with use carriage service to procure person under 16 for sexual activity, use carriage service to solicit child abuse material, use carriage service to send indecent material to person under 16, and possess prohibited drug. He was refused police bail and appeared at Mt Druitt Court on August 13, where he was formally refused bail to reappear at the same court on October 6.

Children and their parents have been warned to be more vigilant of predators online.

Pendle Hill, Liverpool

In July 2021, detectives began speaking online with a 29-year-old Liverpool man. Police allege the man believed he was speaking with a girl aged under 16 years and engaged in sexually explicit conversations about acts he wished to perform with her, before making arrangements to meet with her.

Following inquiries, the man was arrested by detectives in Pendle Hill just before 11am on August 17. He was taken to Granville police station, where he was charged with use carriage service-procure under 16 years for sexual activity, use carriage service to solicit child abuse material, not comply with noticed direction re s 7/8/9 – COVID-19, drive motor vehicle during disqualification period – 2nd + offence, and interlock licence holder -not have approved device installed.

The man was refused bail and appeared at Parramatta Local Court the following day, where he was formally refused bail to reappear at the same court October 14.

Cowra

In June, CEIU detectives began engaging online with a man from the state’s Central West. Police will allege in court the man believed he was speaking with a mother of a girl aged under 10 years and engaged in sexually explicit conversations about acts he wished to perform on the child, as well as arrangements to meet her.

Separately, it is further alleged that in July the man engaged in sexually explicit conversations with detectives after believing he was speaking with a 13-year-old girl.

Following inquiries, a 55-year-old man was arrested by police on Kendal St, Cowra, about 9am on August 25. He was taken to Cowra police station and charged with sexual intercourse with child under the age of 10 years, use carriage service to transmit/publish/promote child abuse, and use carriage service to send indecent material to person.

The Cowra man was refused bail and appeared at Young Court that day, where he was formally refused bail to reappear at the court on October 20.

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