Child Protection and Sex Crimes Squad

Det Superintendent Helen Begg.

Whilst all police have a role in protection of children, clear areas of responsibility have been established for the investigation of child abuse matters. The Child Protection and Sex Crimes Squad was established to ensure the provision of a specialist child protection service across NSW. These services are offered in partnership with the Department of Community Services (DoCS) and the Department of Health.

The Squad Manager is the Corporate Spokesperson and has a key role in focusing LAC and Region response to this crime type through State-wide monitoring.

The aim of the Squad is to:

• identify crime trends, and develop Operational Strategies, Programs and Policies as well as investigate crimes
• maintain the Child Protection Register in accordance with Legislative and Policy requirements.
• provide consultancy in local investigations if necessary

The Squad Includes:

The Child Exploitation Internet Unit:
The CEIU investigates child sexual abuse and exploitation of children that is facilitated through the use of the internet, related computer and telecommunication devices.

The CEIU:

• Conducts both proactive and reactive investigations to identify persons utilising the internet to groom and procure children for sexual abuse and exploitation.
• Conducts investigations into the large scale production, dissemination and possession of images of child sexual abuse (child pornography) facilitated by the Internet.
• Coordinates the NSW Police response to matters relating to child sexual exploitation referred from external law enforcement agencies.
• Provides assistance, specialist advice and technical support to State Crime Command and Local Area Commands relating to the investigation child sexual abuse and exploitation facilitated by the internet.
• Provides assistance to the Child Protection & Sex Crimes Squad by the forensic examination of computers and related systems used to facilitate child sexual abuse and exploitation.
• Assists with community awareness and education on the safe use of the internet.
• Maintain professional networks with other State, National and International Law Enforcement bodies and external agencies involved in the investigation of computer facilitated sexual crimes and exploitation of children.
• The CEIU also provides a Help Desk service.

Child Protection Register:
The Child Protection Registry has been established to monitor and maintain the New South Wales Police Child Protection Register, as per the Child Protection (Offenders Registration) Act 2000.

Under this Act, persons convicted of a nominated violent or sexual offence against a child will be required to register at the police station in the locality in which they reside, within 28 days of sentencing, release from custody or entering NSW after being found guilty of a registrable offence in another jurisdiction. Registrable persons will be required to provide police with certain personal information, travel plans and any changes to this information. The period of registration is for a minimum of eight years for an adult, four years for a juvenile offender and it is an offence not to register or to provide police with false information.

The management of registrable information is coordinated by the Child Protection Registry, State Crime Command. The monitoring and investigation of registrable persons and offences under the Act will be undertaken by Local Area Commands (LACs) and the Child Protection Squad (CPS), State Crime Command.