Tasmania Police confirm 54-year-old male officer charged with accessing child abuse material
A high powered police task force has charged an officer with accessing child abuse material. Read what we know.
Tasmania
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A Tasmanian police officer has been stood down after being charged with accessing child abuse material.
Launceston man Dale Geoffrey Cook, 54, has been charged with one count of using a carriage service for child abuse material.
Deputy Police Commissioner Jonathan Higgins said Mr Cook was based in southern Tasmania had been charged by the Tasmanian Joint Anti Child Exploitation team, comprising Tasmania Police and the Australian Federal Police.
He said the officer, whose rank is not known, was immediately stood down from duty pending the outcome of the court process.
“This is distressing news, and wellbeing services are being made available to all staff as required,” Mr Higgins said.
“As an organisation, we have committed to better protecting children and ensuring the values and behaviour of Tasmania Police meets the high standards expected by the community.
“As confronting as it is to see a Tasmania Police officer accused of these crimes, uncovering and exposing this kind of alleged behaviour is how we will continue to fight against the abuse and exploitation of children, and work to keep our children and young people safe.
“We will continue to work alongside the AFP on this investigation, and as part of the
Tasmanian Joint Anti Child Exploitation team, stop those who seek to harm our young people.”
Mr Higgins said it was not appropriate to comment further as the matter was before the courts.
Mr Cook attended an after-hours hearing at the Launceston Magistrates Court on Sunday night.
“Online child abuse is a serious crime. Tasmania Police, with the support of its partners, is committed to stopping these crimes and keeping our children safe,” he said.
Anyone who has seen inappropriate behaviour online that you suspect is child abuse is urged to call 131 444 or report online to the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) https://www.accce.gov.au/report
Originally published as Tasmania Police confirm 54-year-old male officer charged with accessing child abuse material
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