CHILD EXPLOITATION | Albany man charged after allegedly targeting under 16 girls online
WA Police allege a 37-year-old Albany man used multiple social media platforms to engage in a sexual manner with people he believed were girls under 16.
A 37-year-old Albany man has been charged with more than a dozen offences after detectives investigating his online activity.
WA Police said detectives from the Serious Offender Enforcement Squad launched an investigation into the man's alleged conduct across multiple social media platforms.
It is alleged the man used those platforms to engage with people he believed to be girls under 16 in a sexual manner.
Following the investigation, the man was hit with 13 charges including one count of possessing child exploitation material and 12 counts of intent to expose a person believed to be under 16 years to indecent matter.
The accused has been remanded in custody and is next due to appear before the Albany Magistrates Court on May 14.
The Serious Offender Enforcement Squad sits within WA Police's broader State Crime Command and is tasked with the active monitoring of individuals assessed as posing the highest risk of reoffending, particularly in relation to sexual and violent crimes.
The squad regularly conducts compliance checks and investigations into the activities of registered offenders, with online behaviour forming an increasingly significant focus of its work.
The charges come as law enforcement agencies across Australia continue to warn about the risks posed to children and young people by predatory behaviour on social media and messaging platforms.
WA Police have consistently urged parents and guardians to maintain open conversations with young people about online safety, including who they are communicating with and what information they are sharing.
Authorities have also stressed the importance of the community reporting any suspicious behaviour involving children, noting that tip-offs from members of the public play a vital role in identifying offenders and protecting potential victims.
The investigation into the Albany man's alleged activities remains ongoing. The man's matter is next listed for Albany Magistrates Court on May 14.
Anyone who has been a victim of sexual abuse, or who has information about a person being abused, is urged to contact police on 131 444.
Reports can also be made anonymously via the WA Police Force's Safe2Say online reporting platform at wa-police-force-sex-crime.safe2say.com.au/report.
The platform allows members of the public to provide information without identifying themselves, and has been credited with helping investigators act on allegations that may otherwise go unreported.
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