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VICTORIANS are among hundreds of people expected to be prosecuted for child sex offences following Australia's biggest ever child pornography bust. Teachers, doctors, police officers and the owner of three Melbourne child-care centres, are among those nabbed as a result of a five month police investigation. In a late development last night, the company belonging to the Melbourne childcare centre owner was placed in voluntary administration. More than 400 search warrants have been executed on properties across the nation, including those in rural and regional areas. In Victoria alone, more than 500,000 images of child pornography have been uncovered in the past week, with 107 computers, cameras and CDs among items seized by police. Late yesterday, police confirmed 68 people from across the state had been interviewed and will face charges. But it has not yet been disclosed if any central Victorians are among those expected to be charged as a result of the ongoing operation, co-ordinated by the Australian High Tech Crime Centre. Across Australia, 150 people have been charged with 2000 offences including child sex tourism, sexual abuse and downloading, possessing or distributing child pornographic images. Hundreds more are expected to be summonsed to appear before court where they will be formally charged with similar offences. Manager of the Loddon Campaspe region's Centre Against Sexual Assault Judy Flanagan said child pornography was a disturbing form of exploitation. "The voyeurism associated with viewing child pornography is a form of sex offending," she said. "It's bad enough being sexually assaulted, but if that's photographed or filmed, there is that added dimension.' "The feelings of shame, guilt and fear can be magnified by that knowledge." Ms Flanagan said while she was not aware of any recent cases in the Loddon Campaspe region where children had been victims of pornography, it was always a concern. "The problem is children who are being exploited in this way are sometimes drugged and have no real memories of what has occurred," she said. "The access to IT has clearly changed so the access to child pornography and the ability to expose it far and wide, is speedier." Police have not yet disclosed whether any central Victorians were among those nabbed during the investigation which is still continuing. Director of the Australian High Tech Crime Centre, Mike Phelan, said the police operation should send a clear message that child exploitation will not be tolerated. "The scale of this operation paints a worrying picture in relation to the extent and spread of online child pornography," he said. "Some people involved in this type of activity don't see that viewing and disseminating photographs is a crime, but every child pornographic image portrays a real victim and records an act of abuse against a child.' AAP (1-10-2004) |
Australian News
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