Photo: Australian Federal Police

Twenty people were arrested as a result of those warrants.

Operation P2P was designed to identify and apprehend people involved in accessing, downloading and distributing child abuse material via Peer to Peer (P2P) networks on the world wide web.

Police also conducted checks to see if any children were at risk or identified as victims of sexual abuse due to their connection with those arrested or the properties raided during the operation.

The 20 warrants were executed across several days in March by police from the Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (JACET), E-Crime Squad, detectives from Sexual Offence and Child Abuse Investigation Teams (SOCIT), detectives from local Crime Investigation Units and digital forensic analysts from Victoria Police and the AFP.

On 14 March police executed warrants at properties in Ormond, Fitzroy and Ascot Vale.

On 15 March police executed a warrant at a property in Sunshine North.

On 16 March police executed warrants at properties in Narre Warren, The Basin, Doncaster East, Lalor and Truganina.

On 22 March police executed a warrant at a property in Heathcote.

On 23 March police executed a warrant at a property in Clayton South.

On 27 March police executed warrants at properties in Highton, Clarinda, Richmond and Newtown.

On 29 March police executed warrants at properties in Roxburgh Park, Mulgrave, Hughesdale, Werribee and Capel Sound.

Twenty people were arrested by police as follows:

• A 52-year-old Ormond man was arrested in Ormond on 14 March;

• A 36-year-old Ascot Vale man was arrested in Ascot Vale on 14 March;

• A 44-year-old Sunshine North man was arrested in Sunshine North on 15 March;

• A 22-year-old Narre Warren man was arrested in Narre Warren on 16 March;

• A 19-year-old The Basin man was arrested in The Basin on 16 March;

• A 26-year-old Doncaster East man was arrested in Doncaster East on 16 March;

• A 34-year-old Lalor man was arrested in Lalor on 16 March;

• A 49-year-old Truganina man was arrested in Truganina on 16 March;

• A 57-year-old Heathcote man was arrested in Heathcote on 22 March;

• A 22-year-old Clayton South man was arrested in Clayton South on 23 March;

• A 36-year-old Highton man was arrested in Highton on 27 March;

• A 49-year-old Clarinda man was arrested in Clarinda on 27 March;

• A 26-year-old Newtown man was arrested in Newtown on 27 March;

• A 48-year-old Richmond man was arrested in Richmond on 27 March;

• A 33-year-old Roxburgh Park man was arrested in Roxburgh Park on 29 March;

• A 34-year-old Mulgrave man was arrested in Mulgrave on 29 March;

• A 31-year-old Hughesdale man was arrested in Hughesdale on 29 March;

• A 37-year-old Werribee man was arrested in Werribee on 29 March; and

• A 62-year-old Capel Sound man was arrested in Capel Sound on 29 March.

A second man at the Ascot Vale property on 14 March was also arrested and subsequently charged with drug offences.

The men from Narre Warren, Clarinda, Clayton South and Capel Sound have all been released pending further enquiries.

The men from Ormond, Ascot Vale, Sunshine North, The Basin, Doncaster East, Lalor, Truganina, Highton, Newtown, Richmond, Roxburgh Park and Werribee have all been charged.

The men from Heathcote, Mulgrave and Hughesdale are all expected to be charged on summons.

The charges for the operation include possess child exploitation material, access child exploitation material, transmit child exploitation material, and use a carriage service for child pornography.

A number of items were also seized from the properties including computers, tablets, mobile phones, child sex dolls, illegal fireworks, a samurai sword, and drugs including cannabis and GHB.

Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton said Operation P2P is about targeting and highlighting what is a growing issue for law enforcement across the world.

“Child exploitation images and online child sexual offences are some of the fastest growing crimes across the world,” DC Patton said.

“This is fuelled by rapidly advancing technology and new social media platforms where the ability for offenders to create, share and consume this material grows every day.

“Offenders are actively taking steps to ensure they are not caught and police need to be able to keep up.

“Whilst we know that police are only detecting a small number of those committing these offences, it’s important we continue to work with other state and federal law enforcement agencies, both in Australia and across the world, to ensure we are continuing to improve our response to this type of crime.

“Investigating online child abuse offences will always be challenging but it’s important that police continue to identify and charge these offenders, and part of that is by running targeted operations such as this one.”

DC Patton also said it was important to target people who view and share these materials online given the potential for offences to escalate.

“We know there are links between this type of online activity and contact offending, so it’s important that we target anyone prepared to source this type of material in any way,” he said.

“There is clear evidence that child exploitation material is sometimes used for grooming and seducing victims.

“Part of this operation was focused on establishing whether any of those arrested had moved from online offences to contact offending, and if there were any children currently at risk or who could be identified as victims of a sexual assault.

“These are not simply online choices made for sexual gratification – they are abhorrent crimes against children, the most vulnerable people in our community.”

Offences for the possession, distribution and access of child abuse carry penalties of up to 10 years imprisonment in Victoria.

Anyone in the community with information about child exploitation material or related activity is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report to www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.