A Northern Beaches man has been arrested and charged with alleged online grooming following an investigation by the Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad’s Child Exploitation Investigation Unit (CEIU).
The 40-year-old man from Beacon Hill faced Manly Court yesterday following his arrest at 7.40am Thursday morning, 17 February where he was charged with use carriage service transmit/publish/promote child abuse.
In January 2022, investigators from the CEIU’s Strike Force Trawler began engaging online with the man.
Police will allege in court that the man believed he was speaking with a woman who had a daughter under 10-years-old.
The man allegedly engaged in sexually explicit conversations about the woman’s child and other children under the age of 18.
Strike Force Trawler is an ongoing investigation by the CEIU into the sexual abuse and exploitation of children facilitated through the internet and related telecommunications devices.
Regular covert online investigations are conducted by the CEIU; and police in NSW work closely with their law-enforcement colleagues interstate and overseas.
NSW Police said the Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad comprises detectives who are specially trained to investigate matters against children and adults, including sexual assault, serious physical abuse, and extreme cases of neglect.
Anyone with concerns about suspected child abuse or exploitation should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page:https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au.
