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A CHILDCARE centre owner, teachers and police officers are among at least 191 people facing charges after a massive nationwide crackdown on child Internet porn linked to organised crime in eastern Europe. Raid ... the operation is targeting a total of 700 suspects. Doctors, members of the armed forces, government officials and an assistant to a state MP were also among those targeted by Australia's biggest anti-child porn operation, police said. Together they face thousands of charges ranging from rape and sexual assault to sex tourism and creating and possessing child porn, said state and Australian Federal Police. Raids this week on more than 400 properties yielded more than two million pornographic images of children ranging in age from two to 16. One particularly disturbing series featured a two-year-old in scenes of child bondage. Some homes appeared to have studios and darkrooms designed specifically for producing child pornography. Among the most shocking revelations was that the owner of three childcare centres in Melbourne had been charged with possession of child pornography. Released on bail, the man has been ordered not to go near his centres, in unnamed suburbs, while parents were today being contacted by government officials. "There is no evidence to suggest that children are at risk who attended those centres," Victoria Police's Assistant Commissioner Simon Overland said. The childcare centres will be allowed to continue operating while the Department of Human Services, which regulates childcare in Victoria, has offered counselling and support to families whose children attend the centres. In another case, police in Queensland said the nationwide police operation had "rescued" seven children from one Brisbane paedophile. Police said children aged from five to 13, and whose images were found on a seized computer, had been systematically abused by the paedophile in their neighbourhood. Their parents had been unaware of the years of abuse, said Detective Inspector Brian Huxley. "I don't want to over-dramatise it, but really they have been rescued from further abuse," he said. According to state and territory police figures released today, 68 people were so far facing charges in Victoria, 57 in Queensland, 28 in NSW, 24 in Western Australia, seven in the Northern Territory, six in South Australia and one in Tasmania. More suspects were being questioned tonight and further charges expected, police said. All those facing charges appear to have accessed pay-per-view child porn websites hosted by organised crime groups in eastern Europe. State and territory police seized 380 computers, CDs, photographic equipment and magazines as they executed more than 400 search warrants. Porn collections ranged from one or two images up to one person's library in WA which contained more than 200,000 images accumulated over decades. "These are the most heinous, vile, despicable crimes against the child," said NSW Police Commissioner Ken Moroney. The police operation, underway since March, swept up individuals from a wide range of professions. In Western Australia, two teachers, a police officer and an assistant to a sitting MP, since sacked by the premier's own department, had been charged. WA Assistant Police Commissioner Mal Shervill said he was dismayed that one of his own officers had been implicated. "It is extremely embarrassing for the police service," Asst Comm Shervill said. Queensland police also said serving police officers and members of the armed forces were among those charged. Some were married men with children of their own whose families were unaware of their paedophile activities, police said. Head of the Australian High Tech Crime Centre within the AFP, Agent Mike Phelan, said what had been uncovered so far appeared to be the tip of the iceberg. "This investigation should serve as deterrent to those who seek to engage in this particular crime. They should realise they cannot hide behind their computer," he said. "This is a heinous crime that involves real people. These are not just child pornography images. They are images of crime scenes where an actual crime has taken place." The raids in Australia came after websites in eastern Europe were targeted by a major international investigation, headed by the US Customs Service. Justice Minister Chris Ellison said it was of great concern that the porn ring was so widespread in Australia. "It demonstrates that with child pornography, you are dealing with people who will go to great lengths to work in with each other," he said. "The network is extensive and very sophisticated. You are dealing with the sort of criminal here who is normally intelligent and goes to great lengths to cover their tracks." In a late development tonight, the company belonging to a Melbourne childcare centre owner charged with possessing child porn was placed in voluntary administration. His solicitor, Mark Yorston, said the man would defend the charges. The company, however, is to be placed into administration, removing the man from the day-to-day running of the childcare centres. "In order to further reassure parents, the company which owns the centres has been placed in external administration so (my client) will have no part in the management of the centres whatsoever," Mr Yorston said. Mr Yorston did not say if the man's wife, also a company director, would continue with the business. AAP (30-9-2004) Max Blenkin/ Mark Phillips |
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