Editorial: WA Police officers responsible for finding paedophiles are the unsung heroes of the Force

In so many ways they are the unsung heroes of the WA Police Force. They are the officers who trawl every dark and fetid recess of the internet, searching for paedophiles who seek to entrap and exploit children for their own sick gratification. It is difficult, confronting and often soul-destroying work. But every parent is appreciative of their efforts to keep our kids safe in an era of bewildering developments in technology and social media platforms which few have the time or expertise to master. The latest manifestation of this policing effort is the child exploitation operations squad, created as the result of a recent restructure of the WA Police sex crime division, whose primary focus is to identify and ultimately rescue children who are being subjected to shocking online sex abuse — whether they are located in WA, interstate or ever overseas. And though created only a few months ago, it has already saved dozens of kids — including one as far away as the Middle East — from the clutches of predators. The creation of the squad acknowledges the reality that technology allows paedophiles to prey on our children from every corner of the globe, every moment of every day. We are all aware of the “stranger danger” message. But it truly terrifying to think that stranger could be someone working anonymously and alone at a computer screen on the other side of the world. International cooperation is paramount to stopping these monsters in their tracks. To underline the point, the squad recently carried out a joint investigation with US Homeland Security officials which targeted a 41-year-old Florida man who committed shocking online sex crimes against a 13-year-old Perth child. Investigators swooped on the man after they found he had coerced the teen to engage in live-streamed sexual exploitation. He was convicted after WA detectives gave crucial evidence in a US court. The squad’s Det-Sen. Sgt Scott Johnson explains in today’s report by Phil Hickey: “The internet knows no boundaries and neither (do we). If you offend against the most vulnerable members of our community, we will work with our partners anywhere in the world to bring you to justice”. Victim identification specialist Ron Woodbine described the squad’s workload as relentless. “It’s just a tidal wave,” he said. “We are shining a light on a very dark crime type and these kids are potentially alone and they’ve got no hope and they don’t know who to turn to . . . they are obviously being controlled.” The West also reveals today that a recent local operation carried out by the squad resulted in eight people being charged with almost 90 offences. Technology has changed every aspect of our lives. It is reassuring to learn WA Police is constantly reassessing its methods and structures to ensure it is keeping up — regardless of where in the world the threats to our children lurk. Responsibility for the editorial comment is taken by WAN Editor-in-Chief Anthony De Ceglie