A police officer in Tasmania has been immediately stood down from duty after being charged with accessing child abuse material.
The officer, 54, will front the Launceston Magistrates’ Court on Sunday evening.
The man was charged following an investigation by Tasmania and federal police, who received a report of an “online user transmitting child abuse content” from the United States National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
In a joint statement, Tasmania Police and the Australian Federal Police said they “identified the man as the online user and executed search warrants in Launceston and Hobart today where they located and seized electronic devices, which allegedly contained child abuse material”.
He was arrested at his home and later charged with one count of using a carriage service for child abuse material.
Tasmania Police said the news was distressing, and it was making “wellbeing services” available to staff.
“As an organisation, we have committed to better protecting children and ensuring the values and behaviour of Tasmania Police meets the high standards expected by the community,” Tasmania Police said in a statement.
“As confronting as it is to see a Tasmania Police officer accused of these crimes, uncovering and exposing this kind of alleged behaviour is how we will continue to fight against the abuse and exploitation of children, and work to keep our children and young people safe.
“We will continue to work alongside the AFP on this investigation, and as part of the Tasmanian Joint Anti Child Exploitation team, stop those who seek to harm our young people”.
