Push to combat online child abuse
‘Brave conversation’ needed to help protect kids
MORE people have been caught with child abuse material than ever before as convictions skyrocket across the state.
Police have asked parents to have a “brave conversation” with their children about protecting themselves from predators before it is too late, with recent figures suggesting an increase throughout Victoria.
Detectives from the Victorian Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team said they received reports from at least 100 families about people who have coerced their children into sharing intimate images online.
Detective acting inspector Carla McIntyre urged parents, uncles, aunts and grandparents to talk to young children about the offending.
“Let them know how it happens, that it is frequently happening to children in Victoria – that it is not their fault, and it is absolutely nothing to feel embarrassed about,” Inspector McIntyre said.
“Ensure you create an environment where they feel they can come up to you so they can be supported appropriately.
“The psychological anguish this type of offending can have on young people can be really significant.”
Crime Statistics Agency data found convictions of sexual offences against children increased in the last decade, jumping from 937 in 2013 to 2081 in the year ending June 2022.
Several Geelong residents were caught with child abuse material in the last year, including offenders who have directly asked young children or their relatives to send intimate images.
The material found in their possession ranged from exploitation imagery and videos with no sexual activity through to the penetration of a child, bestiality and solo sexual acts between children.
When handing down a sentence to Grovedale man Andrew O’Halloran in August last year – who asked a police officer posing as a young child for images – Judge Frank Gucciardo of the County Court said the behaviour was “repugnant”.
“The transmission of material … in form of conversation and text are undoubtedly deplorable,” Judge Gucciardo said.
During the sentencing of Northern Ireland native and Geelong resident Ben Hill, caught with child abuse material, prosecutor Sarah Thomas said there was no suggestion he was remorseful.
“There’s no evidence at all about Hill’s level of insight into it or understanding of its wrongdoing,” Ms Thomas said earlier this year.
Detective McIntyre warned parents that offenders would often engage their young victims through social media sites.
Typically targeting teenage boys, offenders will send them what they suggest is an intimate image and ask for one in return.
Once they have these images, police said offenders would threaten to share them unless they received money, gift cards or cryptocurrency.
Detective McIntyre told parents support was available.
“It doesn’t matter how small or insignificant you may think it is – something that may appear small could later prove vital in an investigation,” Detective McIntyre said.
Reporting and support services are available through the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE), ThinkUKnow, NAPCAN, Brave Hearts and the eSafety Commissioner.