Qld: Police warn of child sex predators this Xmas

AAP General News (Australia)
12-21-2009
Qld: Police warn of child sex predators this Xmas

BRISBANE, Dec 21 AAP - Police have issued a warning to parents to protect their children
from online predators these school holidays after Queensland raids resulted in four men
being charged with child sex offences.

Police on Monday announced the arrests following raids last week around Toowoomba,
west of Brisbane, which targeted the possession and downloading of child exploitation
material and the targeting of children online for sexual purposes.

A 25-year-old man was charged with one count each of making child pornography and using
the internet to access child pornography and two counts of possessing child exploitation
material.

Two other men, aged 38 and 18, have been charged with using the internet to access
child pornography and possessing child exploitation material.

A second 18-year-old man faces charges for allegedly engaging a child online and soliciting
the child for sex.

They will face Brisbane and Toowoomba courts during January.

In a separate operation earlier this month, police arrested a 27-year-old Balmoral
man for allegedly organising to meet with a 15-year-old he met online.

Detective Superintendent Peter Crawford said parents needed to take care during the
school holidays.

"Many children are spending more time online and may even be receiving new devices
for Christmas that enable them to access the internet," he said.

"It is an absolute fact that sex offenders go online during the school holidays to
target children to talk with and hopefully, to meet.

"Experienced predators can groom a child and organise to meet them in a very short
period of time."

Det Supt Crawford said parents should take time to speak with their children about
such matters and lay the ground for open communication.

"Communication with your child is the first step and, in my opinion, one of the most
important," he said.

More information for parents is available at www.police.qld.gov.au.

AAP jmm/cdh

KEYWORD: CHILD

2009 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.