Sex Offender Database: About Time!!!

06/03/2014

The Sensible Sentencing Trust is relieved that Police Minister Anne Tolley is finally pushing for the Sex Offenders Register in Parliament, but is skeptical it will pass quickly.

“It seems more important things are on the Governments mind than the protection of our children,” Nadia Crighton Spokesperson for the Prevention of Child Abuse says. “One thing we are particularly good at in this county is talking about the problems, but acting on them takes a stupid amount of time.”

“The move comes as many New Zealanders call for better laws to protect our children from predators. The National Sex Offenders Register is a great idea but to be effective it is essential such a register is open to the public.”

“All child sex offenders have access to the internet where they can encourage each other to continue abusing children,” she says. “Shouldn’t we also, as parents, grandparents, teachers, and leaders also have the right to share information about our children’s safety online? We have a right to know who is living in our communities so we can watch out for one another, and help the police by reporting suspicious people.”

SST is also concerned that the government is just not moving quickly enough to put this into place. “The bottom line is that this could save another child from being abused…today,” Crighton says. “Dragging our feet and using the ‘research’ excuse’ bears no weight in protecting children, this has been in the pipework for 10years. Open justice should prevail and the public should be able to access this information”.

Minister Tolley has said she would like to see the legislation in the house before election but it’s a pretty full programme. “Once again the Government is blatantly telling NZ that our children’s welfare comes at the bottom of their list of priorities.”

SST's offender database is here: http://www.sst.org.nz/offenders-database/

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