AFP child exploitation reports increased in 2023-2024

According to data from the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE), an average of 160 reports of online child abuse were made per day in the last financial year.

The annual figure of 58,503 represents a 43% increase on the number of reports made to the Australian Federal Police in the previous year.

The agency said the growth is a result of an increasing number of abuse cases, combined with greater awareness of the problem in the community.

When the ACCCE celebrated its first year of operation in 2018, it received 14,285 reports of online child abuse.

Helen Schneider of the AFP, commander of the ACCCE and human exploitation unit, saw an increasing trend in child pornography material and that more young people have access to the internet.

“Each of these reports contains images and videos of real children being sexually abused or exploited for the sexual gratification of the perpetrators,” Schneider said.

“While the increase is disturbing, authorities can only help those we know. That’s why we continue to encourage parents and carers to talk to their children about how to stay safe online and how to report it.”

Schneider said there have also been several efforts to work with the industry to raise public awareness.

This included an initiative with ANZ to use financial data to combat child sexual abuse, the ThinkUKnow programme and resources for CALD families in multiple languages, developed in partnership with the eSafety Commissioner.

“We must act as a community to be aware of the risks our children may face and prevent child sexual exploitation online,” Schneider said.

The data was released by the agency to coincide with National Child Protection Week (which begins September 1).

If you know of any current abuse or danger to a child, call the police immediately on 000. Support services are also available for anyone affected by the problem.

Anyone with information about people involved in online child sexual exploitation is urged to contact the ACCCE, whose specialist expertise and skills support investigations into online child sexual exploitation. The agency also contributes to prevention strategies aimed at creating a safer online environment.

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