AFP release images of objects found in online material to help identify victims
Detectives are asking for the public’s help in identifying objects discovered in online child sexual abuse material that could help unlock unsolved cases dating back decades.
The nine objects shown in the images released on Saturday include an old radio headboard, a handmade children’s dress and a pillow depicting an owl.
Detective Sergeant Lana Carey, victim identification team leader at the Australian Federal Police, said each image represented an unsolved case where all lines of investigation had been exhausted.
“We’re trying to revive the memory of anyone who may have encountered them,” Carey said.
“This is about tapping into the wisdom of ordinary Australians… we know they are keen to play a role.”
The three previous images prompted more than 1,300 reports from the public, Carey said.
A photo in the latest edition showed a pair of local sports jerseys framed and hung on the wall.
“Possibilities here could include a player or club member who might recognize the jersey colors or design, a framer who remembers doing the job, or a supporter who recognizes the importance of the Nos. 8 and 11 jerseys being grouped together,” Carey said.
The earliest image, showing an old headboard with radios placed on either side, dates back to September 2000.
Detectives already know the brand of the radio, but not the location of the room or the people associated with it. Additional clues include the computer chair, mottled cream carpet, mattress, wall covering, carpet, lights, mirror and side tables, noting that they may have changed color or been refinished over time.
Another picture shows a distinctive anklet worn by a woman who is now in her early 20s.
The photos have been censored and censored, but they all reflect a situation where a child was abused.
AFP commander Helen Schneider said that the agency’s victim identification team receives new images of child abuse every day and analyzes them frame by frame.
Any tip, no matter how small, can lead to a breakthrough for detectives and change a victim’s life, Schneider said.
“Each of them represents a life turned upside down, which is why team members never give up when they take on a case,” he said. “It’s our version of looking for a needle in a haystack.”
Images can be viewed and reports can be obtained. Australian Center to Combat Child Exploitation (ACCCE) website.
If you or someone you know needs help, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 (and see lifeline.org.au), 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732), National Sexual Exploitation and Reparations Support Service – 1800 211 028 or call the Child Helpline on 1800 551 800.
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