By Luke Voogt
A 43-year-old Geelong man faces 14 charges relating to the alleged exploitation of a 15-year-old girl, following an extensive police investigation.
Geelong’s High Risk Youth Unit yesterday charged the man with a range of offences including breaching a harbouring notice and breaching an intervention order.
Police can issue a harbouring notice if a child is residing with someone without the consent or knowledge of their parent or guardian.
The man was remanded in custody to appear again before Geelong Magistrates Court on May 13, police said.
Nine offenders have been jailed for child-exploitation offences relating to drugs, crime and sex over the past 18 months as a result of High Risk Youth Unit investigations, according to Geelong Sergeant Dan Willsmore.
“A lot of work goes on behind the scenes to prevent predatory behaviour from predominantly older males towards vulnerable kids,” Sergeant Willsmore said.
“Significant arrests such as these send a clear message that we won’t tolerate this form of offending and those responsible will be held to account.”
The unit, consisting of one sergeant and seven uniform officers, was renamed last year after its original formation as the Youth Tasking Unit in 2012.
The unit works with other local police units and agencies to protect young people at “high risk” of drug use, criminal activities or sexual exploitation from adults”, Sergeant Willsmore said.
These include Geelong’s Sexual Offences and Child Investigation Team, Child Protection and Mackillop Family Services, he said.
