Australian police arrest 150 in massive internet child porn crackdown

POLICE seized computers holding more than 2 million images of child pornography - some involving children as young as two - and arrested scores of people, including two teachers, in Australia’s biggest child porn crackdown, police said yesterday.

Australian Federal Police said more than 150 people, including a police officer and a childcare centre owner, were charged with 2,000 child pornography offences.

“The scale of this operation paints a worrying picture in relation to the extent and spread of online child pornography,” said Mike Phelan, the head of the Australian High Tech Crime Centre.

The raids began last week and more than 380 computers were seized as part of an international crackdown, and involved 20 pay-to- view internet sites launched in Eastern Europe by organised crime groups.

“This is a heinous crime that involves real people. These are real victims and real children,” Mr Phelan said. Many of the images involved children from two to 16 years old.

“Those involved in contact with children include health care professionals, education officials, department officials, those working within the education environment as well as law enforcement officers,” he said.

So far 55 people have been arrested in Queensland, 42 in New South Wales state, 21 in Western Australia, nine in the Northern Territory and seven in South Australia. More arrests were made in Victoria, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory.

Two school teachers, a serving police officer and employees of members of state parliament were among those arrested, charged with offences including possession of child pornography, supplying child pornography and indecently recording a child.