Strike Force Trawler has already charged several people this year with online grooming of children.
Supt Goddard says that with school holidays coming to an end, it’s a timely reminder to keep an eye on how much time your child is spending on the internet, what websites they are visiting, and who they may be speaking with.
“Not only should young people be very careful about providing personal information details to a person they only know in an online environment, they should never organise to meet as doing so may place them at further risk of harm,” he said.
“If they encounter something or someone they are not comfortable with, we encourage them to speak to someone they trust, who can then let our investigators know.”
Strike Force Trawler is an ongoing investigation by the CEIU into the sexual abuse and exploitation of children facilitated through the internet and related telecommunications devices.
Regular covert online investigations are conducted by the CEIU and police in NSW work closely with their law-enforcement colleagues interstate and overseas.
Anyone with information about internet predators, should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page, nsw.crimestoppers.com.au.
Information you provide will be treated in the strictest of confidence.
More information and educational packages for parents and children are available from ThinkUKnow (thinkuknow.org.au), a multi-agency program designed to educate and promote cyber safety.
