A former detective who spent a decade investigating child sexual abuse cases has issued a stark warning to parents amid a surge in abuse allegations across Australia. Kristi McVee, a child safety expert who previously worked with the Western Australia Police Force, said that while the rise in reports may partly reflect increased reporting, the dangers posed by social media and pornography cannot be overstated.
Online Hunting Grounds
McVee explained that child sex offenders now operate differently than in the past. 'Once upon a time, before the dark web, child sex offenders hunted alone, now they hunt in packs. Now they share their images and ideas with other people online,' she said. She emphasised that predators are highly adaptable, moving quickly to platforms where children have unrestricted access. 'Predators are very good at changing with the times, they're just so quick to move wherever kids are.'
Grooming Adults First
In a video shared on social media, McVee revealed that parents are often the first target in a predator's plan. 'There are two things child sex offenders do to groom adults so they can get close to kids,' she said. 'Number one, they want you to like them. Number two, they need you to trust them.' Offenders frequently embed themselves in family life, posing as friends, mentors, or community helpers to gain the trust needed to be alone with a child. 'If they're not someone who is already in your family, like a parent or a grandparent, they're going to be someone introduced to your family. They're going to need you to trust them.'
Red Flags and Tactics
McVee outlined common tactics used by groomers, including seeking alone time with children through sleepovers, private tutoring, or special playdates. They often keep secrets with the child, using phrases like 'this is our little secret' or 'I'll get in trouble if you tell.' Predators may also shower children with treats or gifts to build loyalty. 'How this looks depends on the person, but they're very friendly, very helpful, offering opinions, offering advice, wanting to help coach or wanting to help support,' she said.
Warning Signs Parents Miss
McVee shared red flags that parents often overlook. Predators may normalise inappropriate physical contact, such as excessive hugs, kisses, or insisting children sit on their lap. They may touch children unnecessarily, including near private parts. Another tactic is treating the child as more mature than they are, exposing them to adult content. Predators also create opportunities for nudity, such as offering to bathe or change the child, and deliberately undermine parents by dismissing their rules or downplaying body safety education.
Recent Cases and Statistics
McVee's comments come months after 2,000 children in Victoria were urged to undergo infectious disease testing following the arrest of a childcare worker charged with mass sexual abuse of babies. 'These type of cases are extreme because there are hundreds of kids involved,' she said. 'These people are going into these spaces because they know they'll be trusted.' International statistics show Australian men are among the top three consumers of live-streamed child sexual abuse material globally. In September, the Australian Federal Police reported a 41% jump in online child sexual exploitation reports in the 2024/2025 financial year. The 2023 Australian Child Maltreatment Study found 28.5% of individuals experienced child sexual abuse, with more than one in three girls and almost one in five boys affected.
Role of Pornography
McVee believes pornography is grooming sex offenders. 'Every time I arrested a child sex offender and was looking through their devices, they were full of pornography,' she said. She noted that mainstream porn has become more aggressive, with themes based around child sexual abuse. 'It's not even that they're looking for it, it's being force fed to them.' She also highlighted a 50% increase in child-on-child abuse, attributing it to pornography and online content. 'If a five-year-old boy is playing Roblox and they go into an experience where they have to take their clothes off and simulate sex to interact, they think it's normal to do that with other kids.'
Empowering Parents
McVee encourages parents to teach children 'body safety' through resources like her Conversations with Kids cards, which help children recognise and report uncomfortable situations. 'I want parents to realise they have a lot more power than they think they do,' she said. 'When we have the knowledge to be able to identify those people who aren't safe, we do have the opportunity to prevent it.'
For support, contact 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) or the National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service on 1800 211 028.
