DPP Adam Kimber SC announces he will new use laws to challenge release of serial sex predator Colin Humphrys

NEW laws, championed by The Advertiser, will be used by the state’s top prosecutor to revoke sex predator Colin Humphrys’ release from prison.

• THE LEGISLATION: New laws will keep predator in jail
• THE SURVIVOR: ‘This battle gave me a voice after 27 years’
• THE DECISION: Appeal to keep Humphrys in jail fails
• ANALYSIS: Humphrys was the bullet we have all dodged

NEW laws championed by The Advertiser will be used by the state’s top prosecutor to revoke sex predator Colin Humphrys’ release from prison.

Director of Public Prosecutions Adam Kimber SC today announced he would file a Supreme Court application to revoke Humphrys’ release on licence.

That places Humphrys’ scheduled Monday, July 9 release on hold until the repeat application is heard and the repeat offender’s fate is finally determined.

It will be the first time the laws, which was passed by Parliament with bipartisan support, will be tested in court.

One of Humphrys’ victims, known as XX, welcomed Thursday’s decision.

“This is a real personal relief to me and I want to thank your office for choosing to test these new laws,” he said.

Humphrys’ release on licence – despite warnings he remained an uncontrollable predator – was ordered in March and withstood a Full Court challenge.

Following The Advertiser’s “Your Right to Know” campaign, supported by XX and the Carly Ryan Foundation, the new laws were drafted and came into effect on Monday.

An undated photograph of Colin Humphrys, released by SA Police.

They give prosecutors power to apply to the Supreme Court to revoke any offender’s release on licence.

The laws also impose higher standards upon offenders, meaning they cannot legally be released if they remain unwilling to or incapable of controlling themselves.

On Thursday, Mr Kimber said he had considered his position after the appeal failed.

“I have considered the recent amendments to the Sentencing Act (2017) and reviewed all relevant material with respect to Humphrys,” he said.

“Having done the above, I have resolved to make an application for reconsideration of his release on licence.”

Attorney-General Vickie Chapman said she was “very pleased” by the decision and was confident Humphrys would remain in prison.

Director of Public Prosecutions Adam Kimber, SC. Picture: Greg Higgs.

She said the onus was now on Humphrys to prove he could control his sexual urges.

“This legislation to ensure to ensure we have a more effective system in protecting the system, and one of which we’ve had to do under some pressure as a result of the original decision,” she said.

“We would like to look at the long term as to how we might have better reforms in this area,” she said.

“But the highest priority for this government has been to protect the safety of the community, particularly children.”

“We are confident the new laws will have the effect of ensuring that people are kept safe in South Australia.”

Ms Chapman said she expected the Supreme Court would hear the application within a week.

The decision was also welcomed by Shadow Attorney-General Kyam Maher.

He said politicians must do “all we can to protect to prevent dangerous paedophiles like Colin Humphrys being released into the community”.

In federal Parliament, Member for Adelaide Kate Ellis said the new laws had “protected the safety of children living” in the SA community.She paid tribute to The Advertiser’s “tireless” campaign and to XX’s bravery.

“I can only imagine how hard it was for him to relive his trauma to speak out against the release,” she said.

“What (these laws) mean is people who have stood up and fought for the community’s interests to be put first, over those sick predators who have attacked children in the past, have succeeded.”

XX said he was “so grateful both sides of politics” had listened to his experience and to the community’s concerns.

“The absurd situation of impulsive serial child sex offenders given the freedom to reoffend has been addressed by our Parliament,” he said.

“I’m relieved these new laws are in line with community expectations, and that the rights of children are being held in higher regard rather than these insidious criminals’ right to reoffend.”

Foundation chief executive Sonya Ryan commended both Mr Kimber “for applying these new laws” and XX “for his continued advocacy”.