A Yanchep man is one of eight people arrested by child exploitation operations squad officers between Monday, May 1 and Friday May 5.
WA Police said Operation Palomar resulted in 15 search warrants being executed across the Perth metropolitan area and 104 electronic devices being seized.
The eight people arrested were charged with a total of 89 offences, including sexually penetrating a child of or over 13 and under 16 years, indecently dealing with a child over 13 under 16 years, intent to expose a person under 16 years to indecent matter, intent to procure a person under 16 years for sexual activity, made a threat to unlawfully do an act, distributing child exploitation material and possessing child exploitation material.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP), through the joint anti-child exploitation team (JACET), also executed warrants as part of the WA Police Force (WAPF) Op Palomar/AFP Op Tamworth investigation.
These resulted in charges against two men for accessing, possessing and transmitting child abuse material.
One of the men was also charged with producing child abuse material and inquiries in both matters remain ongoing.
A police spokeswoman said the new and expanded child exploitation operations squad (CEO) consisted of detectives, tactical analysts and a victim identification specialist and would focus on the identification and rescue of children who were at risk of sexual exploitation, abuse or harm and of repeat victimisation.
The joint anti-child exploitation team (JACET), which comprises WAPF and AFP investigators, will become a dedicated team within the new squad.
WAPF and AFP have a strong working relationship through the JACET.
The victim identification specialist will support investigations through the identification of children not previously seen in child exploitation material and by contributing to the Australian Victim Identification Database.
CEO officer-in-charge Senior Sergeant Scott Johnson said the internet and related technologies were increasingly becoming the prominent means by which children were exploited for sexual and financial purposes.
“The internet provides users with anonymity and accessibility, allowing offenders to interact and exploit children on a global scale,” detective Senior Sergeant Scott Johnson said. “Organised criminal networks exist to promote and profit from child exploitation, meaning the demand for production and distribution of child exploitation material has grown exponentially and this translates to increasing numbers of real children being harmed.
“The internet knows no boundaries, and neither does CEO.
“If you offend against the most vulnerable members of our community, we will work with our partners anywhere in the world to bring you to justice.”
CEO regularly liaises with the AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE), Australian Border Force (ABF) and other national and international law enforcement partners to identify suspects offending in Western Australia.
This article appeared on Yanchep News Online on 15 May 2023.
