Why Queensland ‘leads the way’ in the fight against child sex offenders
After a horrific Gladstone child sex case that shocked the community this month, the State’s Police Minister has highlighted the work that the internationally renowned Taskforce Argos does to stamp out these heinous crimes.
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Police Minister Mark Ryan says Queensland “leads the way” in the fight against child sex offenders and has highlighted the work being done by the internationally renowned Taskforce Argos to stamp out these heinous crimes.
The minister’s comments follow a Gladstone child sex abuse case that was described this month as “the most depraved sex abuse the Queensland community has ever known”.
Argos is a Queensland Police Service Brisbane-based team which includes international experts in digital media analysis who play a crucial role in the identification of victims across the globe.
Mr Ryan said the Argos investigators were online every day and continued to be a crucial line of defence in investigating, disrupting and preventing child sexual abuse.
“I am advised that over the past five years, police who work in this area have helped rescue 774 children nationally and worldwide through investigation and analysis of seized data from over 150 million media files,” he said.
“Further, this government has delivered even tougher laws to keep children safe.”
Mr Ryan said additionally the government had provided $27 million for stringent monitoring and surveillance of child sex offenders.
“The government has also delivered funding that almost doubles the number of specialist Child Protection Offender Register officers from 22 to 40 – all will be in place by the end of the year.
“As a direct result of this funding and our tough laws, 210 child sex offenders have been charged with 647 offences.”
NEW DOCUMENTARY SHOWCASES FIGHT AGAINST ONLINE CHILD SEX ABUSE
The Queensland Police Service’s internationally renowned Argos unit features in a new documentary showcasing a team of dedicated investigators in their global fight against online child sexual abuse.
Police Minister Mark Ryan recently hosted a premiere screening of the new feature film, The Children in the Pictures, at Parliament House and it was scheduled to be aired on SBS on October 24.
The film features QPS Detective Inspector Jon Rouse, who has investigated crimes against children for 25 years as well as Argos’ victim identification specialists.
Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll said the dedication and commitment of QPS investigators to fighting the scourge of child sexual abuse was “phenomenal” and the documentary not only shined a spotlight on the issues law enforcement is faced with, but also the incredible achievements being made.
“The cases covered in the film highlight the expertise of our investigators, along with Argos’ innovative investigative strategies that combined with international law enforcement collaboration, have resulted in the rescue of many children from abuse and offenders being brought to justice worldwide,” Commissioner Carroll said.
“However, as Jon and all Argos investigators would stress, the volume of abuse circulating online, including self-produced material, and the lasting offline impacts on victims, is why this global problem cannot be solved by police alone.
“We hope this film encourages parents and caregivers to have important conversations with their children about online risks and how to safely navigate the internet.”
Minister Ryan congratulated all members of Argos for their dedication and unified commitment to the protection of children.
“This unprecedented look behind the scenes of Argos helps shine a light on an insidious crime while showcasing the incredible skill and determination of the QPS investigators and why they are world-leaders in this crime type,” he said.
“I congratulate every member of Argos for truly leaving no stone unturned in their pursuit of justice; to find the children in these pictures, wherever they may be and hold those who commit these horrific acts to account.”
Director of The Children in the Pictures, Akhim Dev, said he was shocked when he learnt eight years ago about the existence of massive online criminal networks devoted to the sexual abuse of children – many with members in the millions.
“The internet has allowed entire communities of abusers to form and co-ordinate their assaults,” he said.
“The threat to children isn’t some boogeyman lurking in the park, it’s the new ‘friend’ they met online.
“For those children in the pictures and the extraordinary police officers trying to rescue them, I knew this story had to be told.”
Fellow Director Simon Nasht said in all his years as a storyteller and filmmaker this was the biggest story he had never heard of.
“When Dev walked into my office and told me about these online child sexual abuse networks, I didn’t really believe him,” Mr Nasht said.
“The sheer scale and complexity was staggering, and the brutality of the content was shocking.
“Despite its grim subject, The Children in the Pictures is ultimately an uplifting and powerful story.
“Every day, these extraordinary heroes observe the very worst in human nature, and in doing so, represent the very best of humanity.
“They are selflessly fighting to save our most vulnerable citizens: our children.”
WHAT ARGOS ACHIEVED LAST FINANCIAL YEAR
- Contributed to the identification of 201 children in circumstances of sexual harm nationally and internationally;
- Arrested 49 child sex offenders on 402 criminal charges;
- Referred 690 cases to law enforcement agencies nationally and internationally.
IT’S NOT JUST ARGOS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST PREDATORS
Specialist officers within Crime and Intelligence Command’s (CIC) Child Abuse and Sexual Crime Group (CA&SCG), along with the many officers in the Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB) and Child Protection and Investigation Unit (CPIU) attached to all regions investigate child abuse-related offences in Queensland.
These specialist officers are highly trained, skilled and professional investigators committed to the protection of children across Queensland.
A QPS spokesperson said police used every available resource and investigative action when it came to child protection, but a “whole-of-community” response was crucial to protect children.
“We cannot underestimate the valuable contribution the community plays in helping us stop, solve and prevent child abuse-related crime,” the QPS spokesperson said.
“And we encourage anyone who has concerns to be the voice of that child and report it to police.”
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Originally published as Why Queensland ‘leads the way’ in the fight against child sex offenders
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