Child 'rescued' as teen charged with abuse

An 18-year-old woman has been charged with sexual abuse offences, including producing child pornography, after a young child had to be "rescued" in Melbourne.

The teenager was arrested at a property in Lalor on Wednesday after "complex" searches by Victoria's Joint Anti-Child Exploitation Team.

The infant was found safe at another premises, Australian Federal Police said in a statement.

Local authorities acted urgently after an arrest was made in the UK by the British National Crime Agency.

The woman was charged with four offences, including sexual penetration of a child, and producing and transmitting child pornography.

Her case came before a children's court on Thursday but she was not present for the hearing.

Ms Crossling praised investigators of the joint state and federal team for the way they handle difficult material and cases like these.

"(These) investigators regularly have to deal with the most abhorrent aspects of society," she said.

"I can't praise them more highly for what they do in matters such as this.

"They significantly alter a child's life by removing them from an extremely harmful and distressing situation."

The teen's case is due to return to court on Friday.