Task Force Argos

Infobox Australian police|
name = Task Force Argos


motto = Leave no stone unturned
established = February, 1997 [ [http://premiers.qld.gov.au/library/scripts/objectifyMedia.asp?file=office/3220/54.doc&str_title=Queensland%20Criminal%20Justice%20Bulletin%202004-05.doc Queensland Criminal Justice Bulletin 2004-05] , Queensland Department of the Premier and Cabinet]
commissioner = Jon Rouse [ [http://sixtyminutes.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=295672 Web of Evil] , nineMSN]
ministry = Police and Corrective Services
headquarters = 200 Roma Street,
Brisbane, QLD 4000
employees = 30
units = *Child protection unit
website = [http://www.police.qld.gov.au/ http://www.police.qld.gov.au/]

Task Force Argos is a Police squad based in Queensland, Australia, consisting of 30 members [ [http://blogs.theaustralian.news.com.au/garyhughes/index.php/theaustralian/comments/a_web_of_evil/ A web of evil | Gotcha with Gary Hughes Blog] , The Australian] . They deal with combating child pornography and child groomers [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10487995 NZer charged with using web to procure child] , New Zealand Herald] .

Practices

The squad identifies potential online predators using officers posing as underage children in chatrooms [ [http://www.aic.gov.au/publications/tandi2/tandi301t.html Queensland police stings in online chat rooms] , Australian Institute of Criminology] and also by posing as child sex offenders to infiltrate their networks. The under cover officer maintains communications with the suspect until the offender decides to meet the "child" where they are arrested, most commonly for a charge of "procuring a child over the internet" [ [http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/PARLMENT/hansArt.nsf/V3Key/LC20071114010 Crimes Amendment (Sexual Procurement or Grooming of Children) Bill 2007 - 14/11/2007 - 2R 3R] , NSW Parliament] .Argos is also responsible for conducting research into the modus operandi of online predators and their effects on their victims [ [http://www.police.qld.gov.au/programs/personalSafety/childProtection/ Who's chatting to your kids?] , Queensland Police] .
Argos corresponds with inter state and international departments to find and prosecute predators [ [http://www.police.qld.gov.au/News+and+Alerts/Media+Releases/2005/03/argos21.htm Taskforce Argos, North Coast raids] , Queensland Police] .

External links

* [http://sixtyminutes.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=296439 Interview with Task Force Argos squad member]

* [http://www.police.qld.gov.au/ Queensland Police service]

References