SACA, SANFL umpire accused of child pervert offences had invalid check
Shocking revelations have come to light a SACA and SANFL alleged child pervert umpire did not have a vital legal safeguard designed to protect kids.
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Neither of the state’s top grassroots sporting bodies had safeguards in place to stop an alleged pervert umpire from working with an invalid working with children’s clearance, and one did not check.
SANFL chief executive chief executive Darren Chandler and the SACA have made admissions their processes failed to catch the children’s check of former umpire Brett Allford.
The SANFL went a step further, however, with Mr Chandler conceding Allford’s working with children’s status was never checked despite having contact with minors during games he officiated.
The revelations come as both organisations reveal they either have or are in the process of auditing the legal requirements to tick off umpires.
Mr Chandler said the SANFL “did not apply this requirement (to have a working with children’s check) and a (check) was not requested”.
Following the charges, Mr Chandler said, the SANFL had reviewed and subsequently made it a requirement to have evidence of the clearance.
“(The) SANFL has since sought clarification on the requirements of the Child Safety (Prohibited Persons) Act and immediately changed our protocols to ensure that no-one will be allowed to officiate in any competition unless they have evidence of a Working with Children Check,” he said.
Allford, 40, officiated senior games, but minors were involved in them.
Mr Chandler said the parents of those minors had been notified “as quickly as possible”.
Allford was arrested in October and charged with one count of using a carriage service to solicit child abuse material and one count of possessing or controlling child abuse material accessed using a carriage service.
The Advertiser understands Allford is likely to be further charged with having failed to disclose his working with children status to SACA and the SANFL.
A SACA spokesman declined to comment when asked by The Advertiser if Allford had a valid clearance, and when that clearance had expired.
While he remained silent on Allford’s check specifically, he said the cricketing body was conducting a full scale audit of umpires to ensure “no umpire will be working without appropriate and current checks in place”.
When Allford was arrested, both the SACA and SANFL released identical statements saying there was “no suggestion that the offences related” to their sport and “the participation of children in (the sport)”.
Allford, who did not apply for bail during his first appearance, will face court on the charges later this month.
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