Two men have been charged with child exploitation offences after police raids on two residences on the Sunshine Coast.
A 49-year-old Nambour man was on Monday charged with using the internet to access child abuse material and the possession of child exploitation material.
Investigators from Queensland Police’s Argos unit executed a search warrant at the man’s home, where electronic devices were examined and seized as part of the investigation and will be subject to further examination. Police will allege the man used the internet to access child abuse material.
He was charged with one count each of using internet to access child abuse material and possessing child exploitation material. He was released on strict bail conditions and is due to appear at the Maroochydore Magistrates Court on July 7.
A 58-year-old Sunshine Coast man was on Saturday charged with one count of using internet to procure child under 16.
Argos investigators executed a search warrant at the man’s residence, where his electronic devices were seized as part of the investigation and will be subject to further examination. It will be alleged the man used a social media platform to procure a child for sexual acts.
The 58-year-old man was charged with one count of using internet to procure child under 16. He was released on strict bail conditions and is due to appear at the Maroochydore Magistrates Court on July 14.
Detective Acting Inspector Cameron Burke, from Argos, said the arrests highlighted the risk posed to children by online predators and he urged parents and caregivers to take active and ongoing measures around online safety.
“Predators are constantly adapting to new platforms and technologies, which is why a whole-of-community response is crucial,” he said.
“Every app, game or messaging service a child uses can be a potential contact for harm if not supervised.
“Parents and caregivers don’t need to be tech experts but they do need to be engaged.
“Understanding the apps children use, the settings, supervising and keeping the lines of communication open are the key to prevention.
“Argos investigators are committed to targeting those offenders involved in the sexual exploitation of children and the possession or distribution of child exploitation material and will use all available resources to detect and apprehend those who seek to exploit children in our community.”
