Parliament passes stricter laws for child sex offenders

• Legislation allows WA Police to more effectively manage child sex offenders

• Community safety increased and children better protected

State Government legislation today passed State Parliament, allowing WA Police to prevent a child sex offender from living near their victim or near schools.

Police Minister Liza Harvey said the Community Protection (Offender Reporting) Amendment Bill enabled the Commissioner of Police to apply to the court for a protection order to prohibit a reportable offender from living in a certain place.

Mrs Harvey said the amendment would help provide victims and their families with reassurance that the person who had offended against them was not living in their vicinity.

"This amendment is designed to allow WA Police to better manage the whereabouts of offenders in relation to their victims, as well as arrest and return these offenders to jail if they are not complying with such orders," she said.

The Minister said the legislation also allowed the Commissioner of Police to apply to the court for an order compelling a reportable offender to undertake specific conditions, such as take anti-libidinal medicine.

In addition, the legislation increased the penalties for breaches of reporting orders and reporting requirements from a maximum two years' imprisonment to five years' imprisonment.

"This clause reflects the seriousness of breaches of reporting by child sex offenders who have served their time in jail and been released back into the community," Mrs Harvey said.

Under the legislation, if a child resides in the same household as the reportable offender for three or more days a year (reduced from 14 days), or if the reportable offender has unsupervised contact with a child for three or more days a year (reduced from 14), they must report any change in circumstance to WA Police within 24 hours (reduced from seven days).

The legislation also requires reportable offenders to not change their name at the Births, Deaths and Marriages registry without approval from the Commissioner of Police.

      Fact File

• Reportable offender is a person who, after the start of Community Protection (Offender Report) Act 2004, is sentenced for committing sexual or serious offences against children in WA

• Required to register with and report personal details to Commissioner of Police

• WA Police has dedicated unit - Sex Offender Management Squad - to manage all reportable offenders

• Legislation in addition to Liberal-National Govt's child sex offender register, which went live last month. More information at: http://www.communityprotection.wa.gov.au 

Minister's office - 6552 5900