Henson show charges Les Kennedy May 23, 2008 - 2:15PM
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Bill Henson ... his work is studied in schools. Photo: Adam Hollingworth
NSW police have seized 20 of 41 photographs from the exhibition with the intention of launching criminal proceedings under the Child Protection Act.
Police say charges will be laid under both the NSW and Commonwealth Crimes acts for publishing an indecent article.
The alleged Commonwealth offence relates to publishing some of the photographs on the internet.
The decision to launch a prosecution was made public by Rose Bay police commander, Superintendent Allan Sicard outside the gallery while detectives carried out a search.
Superintendent Sicard said police had taken possession of the Henson photographs that were due to go on public exhibition on Thursday night.
"Police at 3.30pm yesterday received a report from a concerned member of the public that an exhibition was occuring at this gallery,'' said Superintendent Sicard.
"Police attended the gallery yesterday and it was the agreed position between the gallery owners and police that the exhibition not go ahead last night.
"This morning police have attended the gallery and executed a search warrant and seized some items depicting child under the age of 16 years in a sexual context.
"Police are investigating this matter and it is likely we will proceed to prosecution on the offence of publish and indecent article, under the crimes act.
"It is likely that a future court attendence notice will be issued for the offence upon the completion of the investigation.''
"The child depicted in the image is female. We believe that the child is 13 years of age. The information is that the child... is not a resident of New South Wales and we have referred liason through our child sex crime unit to liase with the state where the child is believed to live.''
Police would not say if they had interviewed Mr Henson, or where the child lives.
