KEY POINTS:
A Wellington man who allegedly groomed a 14-year-old Taupo girl for sex using the internet was arrested when he travelled to meet with her.
Taupo police Detective Sergeant Allan Humphries said the 21-year-old met the girl in an internet chatroom and after initial correspondence the pair began texting each other.
The messages sent by the man were of a sexually explicit nature, Mr Humphries said.
"The man travelled up from Wellington to meet the girl on Monday, January 15 with the intention of having sex with her. He was aware of her age," he said.
Mr Humphries said police arrested the man when he arrived at the proposed meeting place.
The man is due to appear in Taupo District Court tomorrow.
Mr Humphries said police made the arrest after the girl's family contacted them during the weekend to tell them of the man's alleged actions and intentions.
The arrested man was charged with meeting with a young person following sexual grooming, an offence that carries a maximum penalty of seven years in jail.
Internal Affairs national manager for censorship compliance Steve O'Brien said the department received complaints from the public with concerns about internet grooming.
The department has a role in monitoring incidents where explicit images are exchanged, but police take over if or when it becomes clear that a physical offence is likely to occur.
Mr O'Brien said advice to parents of young girls who could be vulnerable to sexual predators included keeping the computer in a family area of the house as opposed to being in a bedroom.
He said parents needed to talk to children to make sure they were advised if the child was not comfortable with particular correspondence.
"They certainly need to be aware of where children are going to and, in cases, actively supervise."
Mr O'Brien said children needed to know that the monitoring of their internet use was about ensuring their safety as opposed to snooping on them.
Mr Humphries said the incident was a reminder to the public about the potential dangers of starting internet relationships.
"Parents should be educating their children about these dangers and should be monitoring their children's internet use," he said.
- NZPA
