SA Police charge 46 people on the serious child sex offender register for breaching strict conditions

Police have charged a number of registered child sex offenders for breaching strict conditions, including contact with children.

A police crackdown has uncovered photos and videos of children and drug paraphernalia in the homes of serious child sex offenders across the state, leading to 46 charges.

During the blitz in August and September SA Police officers searched 161 homes and seized 80 devices including mobile phones, laptops, ipads, hard drives and USBs.

Police have charged 46 registered child sex offenders for breaching strict conditions, including contact with children.

The third annual Operation Child Safe, run over 16 days, targeted the homes of serious child sex offenders listed on the national register.

Officers charged six people with possessing child exploitation material, which could include images or video, and another eight people for failing to tell police when they had been in contact with a child.

This could include having visitors with children stay at their house or starting a relationship with someone who has children.

Another 32 charges were laid against offenders for failing to tell police if they had opened a new email account or social media account or bought or sold their vehicle.

SA Police Acting Officer in Charge of the public protection branch Kellie Watkins said more charges could be laid after the seized devices were thoroughly examined.

“We know that child sex offenders are quite prolific on the internet. That’s almost their hunting ground and where kids get exploited a lot with the current style of offending,”

Chief Inspector Watkins said.

“While it may seem a bit innocuous to have an email account it’s actually still really serious because that’s where they’re going to gain that access to children more easily … through their own home, with the door closed, in privacy, unseen”.

MORE TO COME: Kellie Watkins said more charges will be laid after the seized devices were examined.

There are about 2500 South Australians on the Australian National Child Offender Register,

including about 1000 serious criminals who have committed certain crimes or are repeat law-breakers.

Police conduct annual checks on every person on the register, and keep track of their activities. Officers have the power to search the homes of serious offenders at any time.

Crimes against children that could land a person on the register include rape, kidnapping, unlawful sexual intercourse, sexual abuse, manipulation or exploitation, indecent assault, producing, possessing or disseminating child exploitation material or possessing childlike sex dolls.

People can remain on the register for eight or 15 years or, in more serious cases, for life.

Those on the register are subject to strict conditions including requirements to report to police if they change their home address, email address, vehicle or appearance.

Breaches of the Child Sex Offenders Registration Act carry jail sentences of up to five years or a $25,000 fine.

Laws enabling the register to operate in SA were passed in 2007, prompting a major police operation to ensure all convicted child sex offenders in the state were listed.

Originally published as SA Police charge 46 people on the serious child sex offender register for breaching strict conditions