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AFP increases presence and investigations into child abuse in the Northern Territory

The AFP is boosting its efforts to protect children in the Northern Territory by calling on community volunteers to learn about online child exploitation. Read how you can get involved.

The AFP is rolling out measures to protect children against online exploitation. Picture: NCA NewsWIRE / Emma Brasier
The AFP is rolling out measures to protect children against online exploitation. Picture: NCA NewsWIRE / Emma Brasier

The Australian Federal Police is boosting its efforts to protect children in the Northern Territory by calling on community volunteers to learn about online child exploitation.

The AFP is rolling out measures to further protect children in the Northern Territory.

As part of their national strategy, $3.9 million has been put into enhancing child protection

investigations.

The measures will also include increasing the AFP’s presence in the NT.

“The AFP is committed to working with partners in the Northern Territory to ensure that children are protected from online abuse,” AFP Detective Superintendent Jayne Crossling said.

AFP Detective Superintendent Jayne Crossling at AFP headquarters in Melbourne is calling on the NT community to help increase child protection. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Geraghty
AFP Detective Superintendent Jayne Crossling at AFP headquarters in Melbourne is calling on the NT community to help increase child protection. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Geraghty

“The AFP will have stronger investigative, prevention and intelligence capability in the Northern Territory and an increased presence in the Northern Territory Joint Anti-Child Exploitation Team, which comprises of officers from the AFP and Northern Territory Police.”

Detective Superintendent Crossling is seeking to recruit partner volunteers to deliver the AFP’s ThinkUKnow program.

ThinkUKnow is an online education program that aims to educate the community about preventing the online sexual exploitation of children.

Topics include online grooming, preventing inappropriate contact, sexting, self-generated content and sexual extortion.

Crucially, the program focuses on how to report sexual exploitation and where to seek help.

There has been an increase in demand for the program, which reflects the growing need for

education around online abuse.

Detective Superintendent Crossling will deliver a presentation this week to parents and educators at a primary school in Darwin.

The goal is to boost volunteer engagement and training in the program.

The initiative includes members of the police as well as the Commonwealth Bank of Australia.

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Original URL: https://www.ntnews.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/police-courts-nt/afp-increases-presence-and-investigations-into-child-abuse-in-the-northern-territory/news-story/c0a2f9ad028ad4dd983b5ed276e9b7eb