A six-member NSW Police Victim Identification Team has helped 160 children since January 1 by analysing tiny clues in child exploitation material, including a single power point socket design from overseas, a bedsheet pattern sold only in 1990, or a discarded lolly wrapper in the background of a video.

The Sydney unit has also generated intelligence that helped break an alleged global child exploitation network, leading to the arrests of seven men across five countries. All seven remain in custody charged with child abuse offences. Investigations under Strike Force Constantine and Strike Force Trawler are ongoing.

Detective Chief Inspector Adam Powderly from the Sex Crimes Squad’s Child Exploitation Internet Unit said the work ranges from rescuing children from active physical and sexual assault, kidnapping and trafficking to intervening earlier when young people are being groomed online.

“Detectives actively spot vulnerable young people on social media platforms, trapped in online groups and talking with predators pretending to be someone they’re not,” Supt Powderly said.

In Mexico, a man was arrested at the border on July 18 after police received intelligence he intended to travel to the US to sexually abuse a child known to him. In the US, detectives identified a 23-year-old Missouri man allegedly administering a chat group linked to an international paedophile ring. Another Missouri man was arrested on August 21 after allegedly posting child abuse images and videos, leading to a three-year-old child being rescued and placed into child protection. Arrests also followed in the United Kingdom, Uruguay and Poland.

“Offending online, the internet has no boundaries,” Detective Acting Superintendent Powderly said.

“Our commitment to protecting children is not just based in NSW. We will do whatever we need across the world … The tentacles will reach across our country and internationally.”

The Victim Identification Team was set up 16 months ago with three civilian experts and three sworn police. In one international case, NSW detectives worked with overseas authorities to find two young girls kidnapped by their father, who was charged and extradited from Croatia to Canada. The girls were rescued and returned to their mother.

Powderly warned the public not to rely on old stereotypes.

“And we can’t be naive and think a paedophile is a man wearing a trench coat, driving a white van seen around parks, like we used to,” he said.

“White collar, blue collar, 20 to 60 years old, parents, teachers … It’s not that stereotypical child snatcher that we grew up thinking exists. We’ve got computer tech wizards, loners, sports people, you name it. It’s a wide, wide range of personalities and people out there involved in this type of offending.”

He said the toll on investigators is severe, so staff have capped viewing hours, quarterly psychological check-ups, and office supports including massage chairs, video games and therapy dogs.

“My dedicated team are normal people that come to work and do incredible things because of their level of dedication and commitment, seeing horrible things so that other people don’t have to see it,” Supt Powderly said.

He urged parents to build open relationships with children so they feel safe asking for help.

“Everybody needs to be aware. We all have a role to play.”