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AFP to lead International Taskforce against Child Sex Abuse
Thursday 3 December 2009
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) today was handed responsibility for the international alliance of law enforcement agencies dedicated to combating child sexual abuse.
Since its inception in 2003, the Virtual Global Taskforce (VGT) has significantly changed the way in which countries work together to protect children. The dismantling of global paedophile networks, the coordination of covert internet investigations, the sharing and developing of intelligence and the targeting of travelling sex offenders are among the global activities of the VGT in recent years.
The AFP was appointed Chair of the VGT at a conference in Bangkok today and will oversee the international taskforce until 2012.
Developed in 2003 by the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre and chaired until now by Jim Gamble, CEOP’s Chief Executive Officer, investigations by VGT partners have led to more than a thousand arrests and dozens of children safeguarded internationally.
In major global investigations, including Operation Chandler Hella in 2007, the VGT enabled members to combine their online undercover capability globally. Covert internet investigators were able to provide 24/7 coverage across different time zones. In one period of 357 hours’ continuous undercover activity, 31 children were safeguarded and hundreds of arrests followed. In this way, the VGT demonstrated that by combining individual expertise, resources and capabilities, the impact is greater.
Similarly, in Operation Elm in 2008, the VGT partners worked together to smash a global network which believed it could operate below the radar to abuse children.
The VGT also works together to educate and empower children and young people around the world to stay safe online. In 2008, the International Youth Advisory Congress (IYAC) saw every continent in the world represented by young people who worked with representatives of industry, government, media and others to develop a children’s charter for online safety.
Critically, the VGT alliance has enabled the most successful online safety education materials from one country to be shared with others. This has promoted the use of the VGT ‘Report Abuse’ button, an initiative which enables children at risk online to seek immediate advice, help and support.
AFP Acting National Manager of High Tech Crime Operations, Commander Neil Gaughan, will take over from Mr Gamble as the second Chair of the VGT since its inception.
“We will use the VGT successes so far as a foundation to expand its membership and to develop further some of the groundbreaking work which is already underway,” Commander Gaughan said.
“For example, we will be pursuing the international development of Microsoft’s ‘Child Exploitation Tracking System’ (CETS), already a key intelligence database for those working in this field.
“We will also continue to promote the process of international tasking and co-ordination to ensure our efforts achieve maximum impact across borders.
“The AFP as Chair, and through support of VGT members, will nurture existing relationships and build on new ones to ensure ongoing collaboration in the pursuit of combating online sexual exploitation involving children worldwide,” Commander Gaughan continued.
“In the past year the VGT has focused on developing a framework which, now completed, enables new members to join the alliance.
“I would like to thank Mr Jim Gamble for his Chairmanship. Through his commitment and inspired leadership, the VGT is now well positioned to further evolve its membership and expand upon its remit.”
Jim Gamble, Chief Executive of the CEOP Centre and founder of the VGT, said the VGT partners have always shared a commitment and a determination to combat child sexual abuse, not just in their own backyards but globally.
“The AFP has always been an outstanding partner within the VGT alliance and I know that the alliance will go from strength to strength under the leadership of Neil Gaughan and his colleagues,” Mr Gamble said.
The VGT comprises the AFP, CEOP, the Italian Postal and Communication Police Service, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the US Department of Homeland Security representing the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Interpol.
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