Goya Dmytryshchak
A Laverton woman has been charged with possessing child abuse material after allegedly downloading a graphic video using a social media app.
The woman, 24, is scheduled to face the Melbourne Magistrates Court on March 26 for a commital mention.
The Victorian Joint Anti-Child Exploitation Team, comprising Australian Federal Police and Victoria Police officers, arrested the woman on December 16 after conducting a search warrant at her Laverton home.
Her mobile phone was seized as evidence.
It is alleged the woman had graphic child abuse material after downloading a video online via a social media platform.
AFP Commander Todd Hunter said Australian authorities and their international partners remained committed to holding alleged offenders accountable for their role in horrific crimes against children.
“If you are downloading and sharing child abuse material you are complicit in the sexual abuse of children and the lifelong harm it causes – it’s as simple as that,” he said.
“But you are not anonymous and you will be caught.”
Anyone with information about people involved in child abuse and exploitation is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
An online report can also be made to alert the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation, which in the past financial year received more than 21,000 notifications.
Anyone impacted by child sexual abuse and online exploitation can access support services at www.accce.gov.au/support.
Advice and support for parents and carers about protecting children online can be found at ThinkUKnow, an AFP-led education program to prevent online child sexual exploitation: www.thinkuknow.org.au.
