Editor’s note: Infographics with statistics on the ACCCE’s achievements are available via Hightail.
Reports of online child exploitation to the AFP have more than doubled since the AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) was launched in 2018.
The spike in reports, which have grown in each of the ACCCE’s four years of operation, reflects increasing levels of online child sexual abuse identified, alongside greater awareness in the Australian community of the issue.
The ACCCE was created with a vision to keep children free from exploitation and a mission to drive a collaborative national response to counter the exploitation of children.
The ACCCE marks its anniversary each year around the time of National Child Protection Week, which this year started on Sunday (4 September) and aims to raise the profile of all issues connected with child protection.
Since its inception in September 2018, the ACCCE has been instrumental in the AFP’s fight to combat the exploitation of children and contribute to significant success including:
- Removing 517 children from harm;
- Identifying 429 victims;
- Receiving nearly 100,000 reports that have resulted in more than 2,000 referrals to law enforcement; and
- Developing 115 relationships with key stakeholders.
In the 2021-22 financial year, the ACCCE recorded 36,600 reports of online child abuse, which was more than 60 per cent higher than the previous year’s total of 22,600. In the ACCCE’s first year of operation in 2018, it received 14,285 reports of child abuse.
Nationally, the AFP arrested 233 people and laid 2032 child abuse-related charges in that period. Investigations resulted in 114 children being removed from harm – 65 internationally and 49 domestically.
AFP Commander ACCCE and Human Exploitation Hilda Sirec said members of the ACCCE were proud of achieving outstanding operational successes, however education and prevention were equally important goals.
“As more children and young people access the internet, the ACCCE has seen a corresponding upwards trend in cases of online child sexual exploitation,” Commander Sirec said.
“In the past four years, the number of reports received by the ACCCE has more than doubled.
“Every one of these reports contains images and videos of real children, real children being sexually abused or exploited for the sexual gratification of offenders.
“While the topic of online child sexual exploitation can be confronting, now, more than ever, we need parents and caregivers to engage with their children to talk about how they can remain safe online.
“Research conducted by the ACCCE in 2020 revealed only about half of parents talked to their children about online safety.
“We need to be acting as a community to be alive to the risks that may be facing our children, and prevent online child sexual exploitation – during National Child Protection Week and every week.”
The ACCCE has launched many public initiatives to raise awareness and encourage discussion on child sexual abuse within the Australian community and assist operational teams with their investigations.
Some of these initiatives include Stop Child Abuse – Trace an Object, Stop the Stigma and the ‘Closing The Net’ podcast. This week, the ACCCE has launched three animations to assist the community further to understand the issue.
“All of these outcomes wouldn’t be possible without our collaboration with government and non-government organisations, industry and law enforcement, both nationally and internationally,” Commander Sirec said.
“I look forward to working with all of our partners and ACCCE members, both AFP and seconded staff, to continue achieving results across the nation to see children free from exploitation.”
Members of the public who have information about people involved in child abuse and exploitation are urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www.accce.gov.au/report. If you know abuse is happening right now or a child is at risk, call police immediately on 000.
If you or someone you know are impacted by child sexual abuse and online exploitation there are support services available at www.accce.gov.au/support.
Advice and support for parents and carers about how they can help protect children online can be found at www.thinkuknow.org.au, an AFP-led education program designed to prevent online child sexual exploitation.
Note to media:
Use of term CHILD ABUSE MATERIAL NOT CHILD PORNOGRAPHY
The correct legal term is Child Abuse Material – the move to this wording was among amendments to Commonwealth legislation in 2019 to more accurately reflect the gravity of the crimes and the harm inflicted on victims.
Use of the phrase "child pornography" is inaccurate and benefits child sex abusers because it:
- indicates legitimacy and compliance on the part of the victim and therefore legality on the part of the abuser; and
- conjures images of children posing in 'provocative' positions, rather than suffering horrific abuse.
Every photograph or video captures an actual situation where a child has been abused.
For more information on what the role of the ACCCE, what online child sexual exploitation is and how to report it, visit www.accce.gov.au.
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