NOWHERE TO HIDE FOR CHILD SEX OFFENDERS: SPENCE
Published Thursday, 05 July, 2007 at 01:08 PM
Minister for Police and Corrective Services
The Honourable Judy Spence
The Queensland Police Service’s Online Paedophile Unit, codenamed “Task Force Argos” has arrested 103 people for child sex offences in the past year, Police Minister Judy Spence revealed today.
Ms Spence said the excellent work of the dedicated online paedophile unit has resulted in 969 charges being laid against alleged paedophiles between July 2006 and May 2007.
“This Task Force is recognised as a national leader in the investigation of online child exploitation, and these results demonstrate why,” Ms Spence said.
“The unit has been incredibly successful in developing and implementing pro-active policing strategies that have helped save many young children from abuse by paedophiles.”
Ms Spence said arrests by Task Force Argos officers have resulted in the identification and removal of 40 children from further harm.
“This includes 27 Queensland children, 2 children interstate and 11 overseas,” Ms Spence said.
“Task Force Argos also self-generated and referred 56 international targets and 38 interstate targets during this period.
“Members of this Task Force are completely dedicated to this cause and without their hard work and excellent investigation skills many of the children they have saved would still be falling prey to child sex offenders.”
Ms Spence said officers from Task Force Argos are now sharing their expertise in the field with police from around Australia.
“As a result of research and experience in the field, the Task Force has now developed and delivered a new covert online training course for police, establishing best practice in Australia,” Ms Spence said.
“Police from New South Wales, South Australia, Western Australia, the Northern Territory and the Australian Federal Police have now undertaken this training.
“The Task Force has also developed a training package for Queensland regional detectives, providing them with the skills and knowledge to effectively investigate online child exploitation.
“Investigators in all police regions in this state have now undergone training, with 185 officers now qualified in the field.
Ms Spence said the commitment of Task Force Argos to combat online child sex abuse has led to a lot of work with overseas jurisdictions and the adoption of international technologies.
“Task Force Argos detectives maintain national and international law enforcement networks and have a strategic focus on emerging technologies and crime trends,” Ms Spence said.
“In October last year investigators detected an emerging trend in methods used by offenders around the world to trade in child exploitation images.
“By establishing new investigative techniques, the Task Force has identified 60 targets so far, with evidence packages forwarded to authorities in the USA, Denmark, Germany, Canada, the UK, Turkey, Belarus and Switzerland.
“The cyber world does not recognise state or international boundaries, so it is essential police here in Queensland continue to work with other jurisdictions to prevent internet crimes involving children around the world.
Ms Spence said the Task Force was also proactive in organising and participating in National and International Conferences on online child exploitation.
“The Task Force co-facilitated the 19th Computer Facilitated Crimes Against Children Conference held in Brisbane between 30 October and 2 November 2006,” Ms Spence said.
“Police investigators from international jurisdictions, all Australian States and Territories, the Australian Federal Police and the Crime and Misconduct Commission participated in this training delivered by international experts in the field, designed to improve officers' skills and knowledge for investigating online child sexual exploitation related offences.
“These kinds of conferences ensure the expertise of our officers can be shared with other jurisdictions, while Task Force Argos can also gain from the experience and knowledge of other units around the world.
“Officers involved in Task Force Argos play one of the most important roles in our community, and the Beattie Government will continue to give them all the support they need to continue their job of protecting our children.”
Media Contact: Troy Davies – 3239 6218/ 0439 673 287
Ms Spence said the excellent work of the dedicated online paedophile unit has resulted in 969 charges being laid against alleged paedophiles between July 2006 and May 2007.
“This Task Force is recognised as a national leader in the investigation of online child exploitation, and these results demonstrate why,” Ms Spence said.
“The unit has been incredibly successful in developing and implementing pro-active policing strategies that have helped save many young children from abuse by paedophiles.”
Ms Spence said arrests by Task Force Argos officers have resulted in the identification and removal of 40 children from further harm.
“This includes 27 Queensland children, 2 children interstate and 11 overseas,” Ms Spence said.
“Task Force Argos also self-generated and referred 56 international targets and 38 interstate targets during this period.
“Members of this Task Force are completely dedicated to this cause and without their hard work and excellent investigation skills many of the children they have saved would still be falling prey to child sex offenders.”
Ms Spence said officers from Task Force Argos are now sharing their expertise in the field with police from around Australia.
“As a result of research and experience in the field, the Task Force has now developed and delivered a new covert online training course for police, establishing best practice in Australia,” Ms Spence said.
“Police from New South Wales, South Australia, Western Australia, the Northern Territory and the Australian Federal Police have now undertaken this training.
“The Task Force has also developed a training package for Queensland regional detectives, providing them with the skills and knowledge to effectively investigate online child exploitation.
“Investigators in all police regions in this state have now undergone training, with 185 officers now qualified in the field.
Ms Spence said the commitment of Task Force Argos to combat online child sex abuse has led to a lot of work with overseas jurisdictions and the adoption of international technologies.
“Task Force Argos detectives maintain national and international law enforcement networks and have a strategic focus on emerging technologies and crime trends,” Ms Spence said.
“In October last year investigators detected an emerging trend in methods used by offenders around the world to trade in child exploitation images.
“By establishing new investigative techniques, the Task Force has identified 60 targets so far, with evidence packages forwarded to authorities in the USA, Denmark, Germany, Canada, the UK, Turkey, Belarus and Switzerland.
“The cyber world does not recognise state or international boundaries, so it is essential police here in Queensland continue to work with other jurisdictions to prevent internet crimes involving children around the world.
Ms Spence said the Task Force was also proactive in organising and participating in National and International Conferences on online child exploitation.
“The Task Force co-facilitated the 19th Computer Facilitated Crimes Against Children Conference held in Brisbane between 30 October and 2 November 2006,” Ms Spence said.
“Police investigators from international jurisdictions, all Australian States and Territories, the Australian Federal Police and the Crime and Misconduct Commission participated in this training delivered by international experts in the field, designed to improve officers' skills and knowledge for investigating online child sexual exploitation related offences.
“These kinds of conferences ensure the expertise of our officers can be shared with other jurisdictions, while Task Force Argos can also gain from the experience and knowledge of other units around the world.
“Officers involved in Task Force Argos play one of the most important roles in our community, and the Beattie Government will continue to give them all the support they need to continue their job of protecting our children.”
Media Contact: Troy Davies – 3239 6218/ 0439 673 287