More than 450 Oz teens charged with child pornography in past 3 years

Melbourne, Oct 9 (ANI): In the midst of growing concern that "sexting" has reached epidemic levels, new figures from Queensland, Australia, has revealed a shocking number of teenagers being charged with producing or distributing child pornography.

In the past three years, more than 450 child pornography charges have been laid against youths between the ages of 10 and 17, including 113 charges of "making child exploitation material", according to the statistics.

More than 160 charges were laid in 2010 alone - 26 more than in 2008.

Parents and communities continue to grapple with the issue of "sexting", where sexual images are exchanged via SMS.

Teens who engage in sexting not only risk child pornography charges, but can also be listed alongside serial pedophiles and rapists on sexual offender lists.

Police confirmed that some juvenile offenders appear on Queensland's sex offender registry.

Child psychologist Michael Carr-Gregg said "a lack of parental supervision" was a key factor.

"They're ignorant of the law and no one's ever sat them down and said 'When you take a picture of yourself and send it, that's child pornography'," News.com.au quoted him as saying.

Queensland's shocking statistics are just the tip of the iceberg, with offences potentially going unrecorded due to discretionary powers that give police the option to take no action when dealing with a juvenile offender caught with child pornography.

But others can find their names added to the state's Child Protection Offender Register or the Australian National Child Offender Register. (ANI)