Child porn raids across Melbourne and Victoria, 20 men arrested
SOME of the world’s “most vile, degrading” examples of child porn including photos and videos of children and babies being tortured have been seized in a series of raids across Melbourne. Twenty men have been arrested.
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SOME of the world’s “most vile, degrading” examples of child porn including photos and videos of children and babies being tortured have been seized in a series of raids across Melbourne.
Newborn babies are among the victims identified in “horrendous” material allegedly found on the computers and phones of men in recent weeks.
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Twenty men from across Melbourne’s suburbs and regional Victoria — aged from 19 to 62 — have been arrested over “abhorrent” child porn offences, police say.
Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton said the images police uncovered were horrific.
“Every month hundreds of Victorians are sharing millions of images of child abuse material,” Mr Patton said.
“That is an astounding statistic.
“It’s not just a statistic ... it’s about children’s lives.”
Mr Patton said the arrested men’s employers had been notified.
Police confirmed one of the men charged after recent raids was a school teacher who was working in a non-classroom role as an administrator in a school office.
The Herald Sun reported last week that Quentin Paul Smith, 48, a deputy principal at St John’s Regional College in Dandenong, appeared at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court charged with child porn offences.
The 48-year-old Richmond man been suspended from work.
He will face court again on July 6 charged with access child abuse material, possess child abuse material and possess a drug of dependence.
Police are working to identify the victims of the abuse material, who appear to be from overseas countries and who are aged from newborn to 17 years old.
Mr Patton said the material showed children in sexually provocative poses and in pain.
“It also involves torture,” he said.
Victoria Police and Australian Federal Police led the major operation targeting paedophiles who access abuse material online.
Horrific child porn material was found, leading to charges include possessing, accessing and transmitting child exploitation material.
Child sex dolls, weapons, drugs, computers and mobile phones were also uncovered during the blitz.
Police raided 20 properties across the state from March 14 to 29.
The men are from Ormond, Ascot Vale, Sunshine North, Narre Warren, The Basin, Doncaster East, Lalor, Truganina, Heathcote, Clayton South, Highton, Clarinda, Newton, Richmond, Roxburgh Park, Mulgrave, Hughesdale, Werribee and Capel Sound.
Most of the men have been charged or are expected to be charged on summons.
Mr Patton said those who view child porn online have the potential to escalate their offending and physically abuse children.
“We know there are links between this type of online activity and contact offending, so it’s important that we target anyone prepared to source this type of material in any way,” he said.
Mr Patton said police conducted thorough checks to determine if any children were at risk of further harm.
He said the “abhorrent” crime was among the fastest growing in the world, and that offenders actively seek to fly under the police radar.
“This is fuelled by rapidly advancing technology and new social media platforms where the ability for offenders to create, share and consume this material grows every day,” he said.
The men face up to 10 years’ jail.
Anyone in the community with information about child exploitation material is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.