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ABC News
ABC News
National

Police 'rescue' baby, charge teenager with child exploitation offences

Police have "rescued" a baby and charged an 18-year-old woman in Melbourne's north with child sex and child exploitation offences, after a tip-off from authorities in the United Kingdom.

The arrests were made by the Victorian Joint Anti-Child Exploitation Team (JACET), which is comprised of officers from Victoria Police and the Australian Federal Police.

In a statement, police said the charges came after "urgent action" taken on Wednesday to "rescue" the baby, after the matter came to their attention following an arrest in the United Kingdom.

"Investigators located the woman at a premises in Lalor. The infant child was also located safe at a separate premises," the statement said.

Police have laid four charges against the woman:

  • Two charges of using a carriage service to transmit child pornography
  • Sexual touching of a child under 16
  • Sexual penetration of a child under 12

"The woman faces a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment," the statement said.

The 18-year-old woman is due to appear in court today.

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