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WA man charged with allegedly accessing child abuse material on the dark web after UK tip-off

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Sarah StegerThe West Australian
VideoWA Police have charged a Perth Hills man with accessing child abuse material after searching his home.

A Perth Hills man accused of accessing abhorrent images, videos and other child abuse material through a dark web forum has been arrested and charged, facing the possibility of 15 years in prison if convicted.

The 64-year-old’s alleged online activities were first flagged by the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency, whose tip off to the Western Australia Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team and the Australian Federal Police’s Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation led to their identification of the man as the suspected user.

A search of the man’s Perth Hills home on May 13 followed, with a number of devices allegedly containing child abuse material seized and the digital forensic examination ongoing.

The man was charged with two counts of possessing child abuse material accessed via a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22A of the Criminal Code Act 1995.

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He is expected to face Perth Magistrate’s Court today and faces a potential 15 years imprisonment if convicted.

It comes on the back of a significant increase in the number of reports made to the ACCCE’s Child Protection Triage Unit, with last year’s monthly average of 776 – between October 2018 and March 2019 – skyrocketing to 1731 between October and March.

AFP First Constable Ben Vernon said Australian authorities shared intelligence with international partners like the NCA to identify people who accessed child abuse material, as well as those who produced it.

“Alarmingly the appetite for child exploitation material is increasing and there are people in our community who will abuse vulnerable children to satisfy the criminal impulses of others and make money,” he said.

“Sexual abuse causes irreparable harm and we are determined to protect children wherever they live and prosecute anyone who preys on them, whether it’s online or through physical contact.

“To those thinking of accessing or sharing this material, use of the dark web or encrypted systems will not enable you to stay anonymous.”

Members of the public who have any information about people involved in child abuse and exploitation are urged to call Crime stoppers on 1800 333 000.

You can also make a report online by alerting the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation via the Report Abuse button at www.accce.gov.au/report.

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