> TEAM PR OFILE: J A C ET
A POSITIVE NET EFFECT D
espite the confronting nature of the work, the JACET does not struggle to attract staff. “The job appeals to people who are passionate about child protection,” Detective Sergeant Gill said. “It’s often tough as we view horrific material, however it can be quite rewarding as we are saving children from ongoing harm.” Brevet Sergeant David Townsend joined the JACET in 2017 after gaining extensive experience working in various roles within SCIB. He is passionate about his covert role in online engagement, where he manages several assumed identities across various online platforms with the aim of targeting and identifying offenders exploiting children and capturing evidence. This information is then actioned
by SAPOL or referred to interstate or overseas jurisdictions. “Online engagement is a significant component of what the JACET does. We continuously engage with child sex offenders online and gather crucial information that forms the basis of our proactive investigations,” Brevet Sergeant Townsend said. “When children at risk are identified we take immediate action to ensure their welfare.” As a father, Brevet Sergeant Townsend is often asked how he can perform such a demanding and difficult role. “It comes down to personality and experience. I would rather know what people are doing online and use this education to help protect my own children,”
he said. “I have seen the work affect other people quite differently, but you need to be aware of the challenges and take necessary measures to look after your mental health.” Brevet Sergeant Townsend sees JACET as an integral part of an all-encompassing child protection model. “The JACET captures both suspects and victims who might not otherwise come to police attention and is proactive in identifying offenders and victims prior to a victim reporting an offence,” he said. “Once offenders have been identified and arrested, the Victim Identification Team then does an amazing job to locate victims all over the world. Having JACETs across Australia now allows us to share and access information about offending and victims more efficiently than in the past. “Despite these improvements, we are really only scratching the surface of the online areas where child abuse is occurring. Having the latest hardware, software and support will allow us to access new applications, technologies and platforms and make further inroads into this disturbing crime.”
LEFT: The ‘child wall’ in the JACET office highlighting the number of victims saved; Senior Constable Robert Neville and Detective Sergeant Matt Lyons examine a case file; Brevet Sergeant Stephen Hegarty with an offender. Photos: JACET.
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BL UE R IN T IS B LU E P RI NT I S S U E 2 ~ 2018 2018