A man has been arrested in Lismore and charged over the alleged online exploitation of a child and possession of child abuse material.

Last month, detectives from the Child Abuse and Sex Crime Squad’s Child Exploitation Internet Unit (CEIU) began engaging online with a man from the Far North Coast.

Police will allege in court that the man believed he was speaking with a 14-year-old girl and engaged in conversations about sexually-explicit acts he wished to perform on the child.

Following extensive inquiries, a 33-year-old man was arrested by Strike Force Trawler detectives at a business at Lismore about 9.30am today (Wednesday November 6).

Strike Force Trawler detectives also executed a search warrant at a home near Casino, where they seized electronic devices.

The man was taken to Lismore Police Station and charged with use carriage service to send indecent material to person under 16, use carriage service to solicit child abuse material, possess child abuse material, and fail to comply with reporting obligations.

He was refused bail to appear at Lismore Local Court today.

Strike Force Trawler is an ongoing investigation by the CEIU into the sexual abuse and exploitation of children facilitated through the internet and related telecommunications devices.

Regular covert online investigations are conducted by the CEIU; and police in NSW work closely with their law-enforcement colleagues interstate and overseas.

Anyone with concerns about suspected child abuse or exploitation should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au.

Information you provide will be treated in the strictest of confidence.