Jurisdiction

The very nature of the Internet can create problems when attempting to identify an offender, their location or the law enforcement body (LEA) responsible for investigating the offence.

Generally, the investigating LEA is determined by the location of the computer that the offender has used to commit the offence. For example;

• If a person who resides in New South Wales forwards an offensive email to a resident of Brisbane, then the New South Wales Police would be responsible for investigating the matter.
• If a person who resides in Victoria fraudulently posts an item for auction on “ebay”, a Queensland complainant pays for the item and the offender fails to deliver it, then the Victoria Police would be responsible for investigating the matter.
• If a person who resides in Queensland unlawfully uses an Internet account belonging to a resident in Tasmania, then the Queensland Police Service is responsible for investigating the matter.

If it is determined that the matter is one for investigation by an LEA other than the Queensland Police Service, then you should provide full particulars of the complaint to your local police so that it can be forwarded to the other agency for their information and necessary attention.
Please note however that the Queensland Police Service does not have the authority to intervene directly against criminal material on computers in another country, or against criminals operating from another country.
The international problems associated with offences being committed via the Internet depend upon the co-operation of law enforcement agencies in different countries and upon the voluntary co-operation of the Internet industry.