新南威尔士州警方发出严厉警告，儿童虐待问题已达到流行病级别。过去12个月，该州联合转介中心接到近16000份儿童保护报告[1]，平均每周超过300起涉及儿童的严重性侵和身体伤害事件被报告[1]。NSW警察助理专员Scott Cook表示，侦探每个周末平均接收10至15份儿童虐待举报[1]，他指出"这是数以万计的儿童正在遭受虐待"[1]。
在线儿童虐待案件增长尤为迅速。电子安全专员Julie Inman Grant透露上一财年收到超过18000份涉及儿童虐待材料的举报，同比增长17%[1]。澳洲儿童剥削应对中心预计今年将收到超过100000份举报[1]。Scott Cook指出"这是一场在线儿童虐待的流行病"[1]。
执法部门采取了相应行动。过去一年，儿童虐待组侦探控告超过550人共3349项违法行为，其中包括近900项性侵指控、330项殴打指控和近1200项猥亵罪名[1]。此外，来自昆士兰州的前儿童保育工作者Ashley Paul Griffith预计将被控近200项违法行为[1]。
NSW police have declared child abuse an epidemic, with authorities processing nearly 16,000 child protection reports through the state's joint referral center over the past 12 months.[1] More than 300 serious sexual assault and physical harm cases involving children are reported each week.[1] NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Scott Cook stated that detectives receive an average of 10 to 15 child abuse reports every weekend.[1]
The surge in cases extends beyond physical and sexual abuse to include significant growth in online exploitation. The Australian Centre for Child Exploitation Response anticipates receiving over 100,000 reports this year.[1] Electronic Safety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant revealed that over 18,000 reports involving child abuse material were lodged in the previous financial year, representing a 17 percent increase year-on-year.[1] Cook described the situation as "an epidemic of child sexual abuse online," emphasizing that "tens of thousands of children are being abused."[1]
Police action against perpetrators has intensified accordingly. In the past year, the child abuse investigation team charged more than 550 individuals with 3,349 offenses, including nearly 900 sexual assault charges, 330 assault charges, and approximately 1,200 indecent offense charges.[1] A former Queensland childcare worker, Ashley Paul Griffith, is expected to face nearly 200 charges.[1]