SA Police charge 36 sex offenders breaching their strict conditions

Police have charged 36 registered child sex offenders for breaching their strict conditions, during a statewide blitz on pedophiles.

Police went to the home addresses of 144 registered child sex offenders. Picture: File

Police have charged 36 people on the child sex offenders registry for breaching their legal obligations.

Officers from SA Police’s Public Protection Branch, Crime Services and Districts took part in the crackdown as part of Operation Child Safe II, on Monday, July 31.

During the operation, police went to the home addresses of 144 child sex offenders registered on the Australian National Child Offender Register (ANCOR).

Police found five serious registrable offenders with child exploitation material, and three other offenders who had contact with children without notifying or seeking permission from SAPOL.

Officers also seized three computers, three mobile phones, five laptops/tablets, three USBs that needed to be examined further and cannabis and related equipment.

A person committing cyber crime. Picture: File

Crime Service assistant commissioner John Venditto said if police found “any evidence of noncompliance,” the offenders would “face criminal charges for breaching their ANCOR legal obligations.”

“Police check on all registered child sex offenders as a matter of routine. Operation Child Safe is also routinely conducted and the public should be reassured that police will take every opportunity to police child sex offenders and ensure they comply with their legal obligations.”

The searches were held in metropolitan and regional areas, and resulted in 209 houses being searched with 36 offenders being charged with breaching their ANCOR related obligations.

The operation’s aim was to ensure registered child sex offenders were complying with their strict conditions imposed by the Child Sex Offenders Registration Act 2006.

Thirty-six child sex offenders were charged. Picture: File/Source: Thinkstock

The breaches included maintaining internet user accounts, failing to notify ownership of a vehicle, having an email address without notifying police, contact with children without disclosing, and possessing child exploitation material.

“Police will continue examining a number of items seized which may result in further charges being laid,” he said.

“The Act imposes a range of restrictions or conditions. These include prohibition from maintaining internet user accounts, notifying change of address or ownership of a vehicle, notifying police of email addresses etc,” Mr Venditto said.