The Australian Federal Police (AFP) has announced a new criminal asset confiscation strategy which could see police seizing the assets of paedophiles.
AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw said the Force’s Criminal Assets Confiscation Taskforce (CACT) deprived offenders of the proceeds and benefits of their crimes.
“I can reveal the AFP and the CACT have recently adopted a new and aggressive criminal asset confiscation strategy specifically targeted at those engaging in the exploitation of children,” Commissioner Kershaw said.
“It is truly sickening that offenders are profiting from the abuse, degradation and misery of children,” he said.
“I make no apologies for using the full force and application of the law in our fight to lock these offenders away, and strip them of their tainted assets.”
“If a child sex predator is profiting or seeking to gain from the exploitation of children, their home, their car, their bank accounts and other assets are at risk of being seized by CACT’s team of litigators, financial investigators, forensic accountants and analysts.”
Commissioner Kershaw said CACT would make further announcements about the results of the new strategy in the months ahead.
He said funds from the assets confiscated by CACT were directed back to the community through prevention, intervention and diversion programs.
“We will never give up in our fight to rescue the victims and unleash maximum damage to those who do our children harm,” he said.
“But for parents we need you to help us, please talk to your children and understand the technology they are using, and who they communicate with online,” Commissioner Kershaw said.
Information on how to keep children safe online can be accessed on the AFP’s Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation website at this PS News link.
