A MAN has been arrested and charged after a four-month investigation into alleged child grooming.
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Detectives from the State Crime Command’s Sex Crimes Squad charged the man with six offences after detectives from the Child Exploitation Internet Unit (CEIU) began engaging online with a man in April this year.
It is alleged the man believed he was communicating with a 14-year-old girl, and that during the conversations, he made sexually explicit comments regarding the child and requested to meet with the child for the purpose of sexual activity. Just before noon on Saturday, police arrested a 48-year-old man in Narrabri and seized mobile phones, which allegedly contained child abuse material.
The man was taken to Narrabri Police Station and charged with using a carriage service to procure person under 16 years of age, using a carriage service for child pornography material, using a carriage service to groom persons under 16 years of age, and possess child abuse material.
He was refused bail to appear at Moree Local Court on Sunday. Strike Force Trawler is an ongoing CEIU investigation into the sexual abuse and exploitation of children facilitated through the internet and related telecommunications devices.
Anyone with information about internet predators should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www1.police.nsw.gov.au.
Safe internet tips for parents include: a child’s time spent on the internet and talk to your child about the dangers of online discussions; keep devices in a room the whole family can access; consider installing filtering and/or computer blocking software; ensure you are able to access your child's accounts.