Risk of child sex abuse on the rise

YOUNG children are at risk from paedophiles with an alarming increase in the number of referrals to the Australian Federal Police about child abuse images online.

Up until July 25 there had been 11,301 referrals to the AFP from the US-based National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children. That compares to 9737 in the whole of 2017 and 8625 in 2016.

The referrals mainly relate to images of child exploitation found online, which are then passed to AFP to investigate.

AFP deputy commissioner Karl Kent, the transnational serious and organised crime co-ordinator, said: “There has been an alarming increase in the number of cases referred to agencies (in Australia).

“The dark net and social media have created enormous platforms for that form of offending. It enables those who seek to groom young children, access to children.”

Another reason for the rising number of cases is young people who produce their own exploitation material.

Once that material is passed on to a friend, it can end up all over the internet. After getting a referral, officers look to capture offenders and identify and rescue child victims.

The AFP is leading the new Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE).

The new centre works with state police forces, as well as law enforcement agencies overseas. It also includes members of the financial intelligence agency AUSTRAC and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission.

The AFP’s child protection operation is expected to swell from about 100 to 170 staff in the next seven years.

Mr Kent said $70 million had been invested by the Government to establish the centre. He said children often used mobile devices without parental supervision. Online predators then groom children into sending images of themselves.

“The devices themselves are becoming smaller and more mobile,” Mr Kent said.

“These create opportunities for those who gain satisfaction from that activity.

“A key motivator is power over others. Power over vulnerable people. It is a key motivator for most sexual offending and these individuals are no different.

“That is a great concern to families and parents in this country.

“The harm that it causes our children in the immediate term, but also longer term psychologically, is devastating.”

THE DARK NET AND SOCIAL MEDIA HAVE CREATED ENORMOUS PLATFORMS FOR THAT FORM OF OFFENDING KARL KENT, AFP