40 charged in child exploitation investigation

Police Minister Judy Spence and Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson today announced that in one of the largest operations of its kind in Queensland, 40 people have been arrested for the possession and distribution of child exploitation images.

The arrests were part of an international operation involving 170 countries.

Ms Spence said: “In early April, officers from Queensland Police Service’s Taskforce Argos and the Australian Federal Police commenced the Queensland component of an operation targeting people using the internet to access and download child exploitation material from a European-based website.

“The operation, codenamed Operation Golf Cortex, utilised specialist Queensland Police Service child protection investigators from across the state as well as Australian Federal Police officers.

“The operation has resulted in the arrest of 40 people to date from a broad range of occupations.

“I want to praise the Queensland Police officers involved in this operation. They have moved extremely quickly to arrest people in fast time and have made it their absolute priority to first target people who may work with children,” Ms Spence said.

Commissioner Atkinson said: “Those arrested include four teachers, all immediately suspended, and blue card holders who have had their blue cards suspended. Investigations into other targets are continuing.

“The variety of occupations of offenders charged in this operation illustrates that all facets of society are represented,” Commissioner Atkinson said.

Detective Superintendent Peter Crawford from the Queensland Police Service Child Safety and Sexual Crime Group said: “Obviously, Taskforce Argos has first targeted those people who we know may have access to children, before moving on the general public targets. This explains why it appears to be a high presentation of teachers and blue card holders at this stage.”

“In total, the operation identified about 200 Queensland targets out of the more than 1500 in Australia.

“Not only has the investigation identified people who have allegedly committed the offences of accessing and downloading child pornography, but it has also identified alleged contact offences including rape and indecent assault,” Detective Superintendent Crawford said.

“These operations target people within our community, who in addition to possessing child pornography, may also be committing contact offences against Queensland children.”

The present results of the joint investigation are:

115 warrants executed with 40 people arrested on 133 charges.

(QPS- 89 warrants executed with 27 people arrested on 102 charges)

(AFP- 26 warrants executed with 13 people arrested on 31 charges)

“Often these images being downloaded show young children being brutalised sexually, physically and psychologically - all members of the community must accept that possession of child pornographic images is not a victimless crime.

“Images of children being sexually abused and exploited may be readily available via the Internet but it is illegal to access and download them and there are severe penalties for doing so.

“People need to understand that operations like this will continue in the future and if you download child pornographic images, you will be identified and prosecuted.

“The operation once again highlights the effectiveness of law enforcement agencies working together to identify those who seek to abuse and exploit children,” Detective Superintendent Crawford said.

Operation Golf Cortex – breakdown of the 27 people charged from the QPS warrants

A 55-year-old Gold Coast carpet maker was charged with one count of rape, and three counts each of indecent treatment and common assault. He is due to appear in the Gold Coast Magistrates Court on June 25.

A 57-year-old Maryborough pensioner was charged with one count each of possession of child exploitation material and use of a carriage service to access child pornography. He will appear in Maryborough Magistrates Court on July 22.

A 52-year-old Cairns primary producer will appear in Cairns Magistrates Court today charged with 10 counts of possession of child exploitation material, 13 counts of using a carriage service to access child exploitation material, three counts of possession of a weapon and one count of tainted property.

A 32-year-old Ipswich gardener was charged with 14 counts of possession of child exploitation material and two counts of possession of a dangerous drug, and will appear in Ipswich Magistrates Court on June 25.

A 68-year-old film producer from Redcliffe was charged with one count each of possession of child exploitation material, and using a carriage service to access child pornography. He will appear in the Redcliffe Magistrates Court on June 23.

An unemployed Brisbane West man, 61, will appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on July 3 charged with one count of using a carriage service to access child pornography.

A 35-year-old linesman from Blackall was charged with one count each of possession of child exploitation material and using a carriage service to access child pornography. He will appear in the Blackall Magistrates Court on July 7.

An IT consultant from Logan, 31, was charged with using a carriage service to access child pornography. He will appear in Beenleigh Magistrates Court on June 26.

A 39-year-old labourer from Annerley was charged with one count each of possession of child exploitation material, using a carriage service to access child pornography and breaching bail. He is due to appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on June 26.

A 59-year-old Sunshine Coast teacher was charged with one count of possession of child exploitation material and using a carriage service to access child pornography.

A 46-year-old professional artist will appear in Maroochydore Magistrates Court today charged with possession of child exploitation material and using a carriage service to access child pornography.

A pensioner from Bundaberg, 58, was charged with four counts of possession of child exploitation material and three counts of producing/distributing child exploitation material. He is due to appear in the Bundaberg Magistrates Court on July 25.

A 58-year-old unemployed Ipswich man appeared in the Ipswich Magistrates Court yesterday on five counts of possession of child exploitation material.

A 37-year-old Gympie labourer was charged with one count each of possession of child exploitation material and using a carriage service to access child pornography. He is due to appear in the Gympie Magistrates Court on July 14.

An unemployed 34-year-old from Logan will appear in the Beenleigh Magistrates Court on June 26 charged with possession of child exploitation material and using a carriage service to access child pornography.

A 45-year-old Beenleigh pensioner was charged with 10 counts of possession of child exploitation material and will appear tomorrow at the Bundaberg Magistrates Court.

A company director, 54, from Richlands appeared in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on May 31. He was charged with possession of child exploitation material and using a carriage service to access child pornography.

A 32-year-old Mareeba taxi driver was charged with 14 counts of possession of child exploitation material and will appear in Atherton Magistrates Court on July 9.

A 56-year-old Wavell Heights fencing contractor will appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court on July 1 charged with one count of possession of child exploitation material.

A 43-year-old Gold Coast painter and decorator was charged with one count of possession of child exploitation material and one count of tainted property, and will appear in the Southport Magistrates Court on August 11.

A 36-year-old Ipswich welder was charged with possession of child exploitation material and will appear in the Ipswich Magistrates Court on June 25.

A 58-year-old Toowoomba retiree was charged with one count of child exploitation material and using a carriage service to access child pornography. He will appear in Toowoomba Magistrates Court on June 30.

A 58-year-old Gympie teacher will appear in Kingaroy Magistrates Court on June 12 charged with possession of child exploitation material and using a carriage service to access child pornography.

A 43-year-old Logan student was charged with possession of child exploitation material and using a carriage service to access child pornography. He will appear in Beenleigh Magistrates Court on June 26.

A 40-year-old Ipswich labourer was charged with four counts of possession of child exploitation material and will appear in the Ipswich Magistrates Court on June 25.

A 42-year-old Oxley screen printer was charged with possession of child exploitation material and tainted property and will appear in Richlands Magistrates Court on June 17.

A 60-year-old Logan accountant will appear in Beenleigh Magistrates Court on June 26 charges with one count each of possession of child exploitation material and using a carriage service to access child pornography.

*Note: This list mentions two teachers. Two other teachers were arrested by the Australian Federal Police.

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