Boost to child abuse fight

A NEW joint taskforce formed between the Australian Federal Police and Tasmania Police will crack down on child abuse and sexual exploitation in the state.

In the last year, AFP investigations led to 17 Tasmanians charged with more than 100 child exploitation-related charges.

AFP Assistant Commissioner Debbie Platz and Tasmania Police Assistant Commissioner Jonathan Higgins yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding to formalise the new agreement, Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team, signifying a boost in resources to help identify, target and prosecute predators.

Last year the AFP received more than 18,000 reports of child exploitation and tech companies in the US reported more than 45 million online images and videos of children being sexually abused.

“Sadly, Australian appetite for child exploitation material is concerning and ever increasing,” Assistant Commissioner Platz said.

“Even more disturbing, the age of victims are getting younger, and the violence more extreme.”

In September, the AFP and Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation together received more than 1600 reports relating to child abuse material, she said.

Assistant Commissioner Higgins said the new taskforce formalised work already being done and enabled a greater co-ordinated investigative response.

“The establishment of this taskforce means we can now accelerate the way information is received from international agencies and control how it is shared among Australian authorities,’’ Assistant Commissioner Platz said.