‘The greatest groomer’: Reviewer reveals Tasmania Police officer’s disturbing child abuse techniques
Policeman Paul Reynolds was known for being “charismatic” and “larger than life”, but this was all part of a facade he constructed to groom young boys, a reviewer into the scandal has revealed.
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Tasmanian policeman Paul Reynolds was known for being “charismatic” and “larger than life” – but this was all part of a facade he constructed in order to groom young boys, their parents, and the small communities they lived in.
This was a key observation and emerging theme noted by the woman behind an independent review into the now-deceased serial pedophile, whose conduct apparently lasted three decades.
On Tuesday, reviewer Regina Weiss released an interim report – identifying emerging themes – into the Tasmania Police scandal ahead of her final report and recommendations, which is expected at the end of June.
Ms Weiss said the evidence-gathering stage of the review was approximately midway, with “much work still to be done”, but the scope of Reynolds’ rampant grooming practices had already become apparent.
She said Reynolds had been a respected police officer within the small communities he lived and worked in, including Deloraine, and that he’d coached football, umpired basketball, and was the North Tasmanian Football Association president.
“He was generally perceived to be a ‘larger than life’ personality and well-known to many,” Ms Weiss said in her interim report.
“One victim-survivor described Paul Reynolds as ‘just the greatest groomer. He was so charismatic, everyone wanted to be around him’.
“Participants have spoken of the power imbalance felt because Paul Reynolds was a
police officer, but also due to his position in sport.”
Ms Weiss said a number of people who had spoken to her about Reynolds said it was this public perception that made it “near-impossible” to speak up about the grooming and sexual abuse he unleashed upon teenage boys.
They also noted a “culture of silence” in Tasmania’s policing community, which they said extended beyond the time of Reynolds’ death and a lack of transparency around his conduct even years after.
Participants have reported Reynolds would use football as an initial conversation-starter with teenage boys, then groom them before engaging in “explicit messaging” in the form of texts and photos, and in some case subject them to physical sexual abuse.
She said one of Reynolds’ victim-survivors from more than 30 years ago said “who would believe me?”
Another historical victim-survivor said: “I wouldn’t even have known who I could report to. Who polices the police?”
Ms Weiss said as a result, Reynolds’ ability to “engage in inappropriate and entirely unacceptable conduct towards teenage boys” went unreported for many years.
However, she also noted that Tasmania Police had since taken extensive steps to remedy the reporting gap that existed historically, and safe reporting practices were very different today than they were in the 1980s.
Ms Weiss thanked participants for their courage, and urged anyone else who wished to, to come forward.
She also said as a result of her review, “one relevant disclosure” had been made to Tasmania Police regarding suspected child abuse or concern about the immediate safety of risk of harm to a person.
Tasmania Police Commissioner Donna Adams also acknowledged the bravery of those who had spoken about their experiences.
“It is distressing to learn that a once trusted member of Tasmania Police used his role to groom and abuse children as far back as 1988,” she said.
“I am deeply sorry for the hurt and suffering you experienced, the ongoing impact, and that you weren’t able to share your experiences before now.”
She said the interim report aimed to highlight emerging themes at this stage, with Ms Weiss’ recommendations expected later this year.
Commissioner Adams also said Ms Weiss had not advised her of any current offending or inappropriate sexual behaviour by a serving police officer, or suspicions that a child in contact with a police officer might not be safe.
Anyone who wishes to make a written submission or register interest in a private session is invited to email submissions@weissindependentreview.tas.gov.au
Reynolds died by suicide in September 2018 shortly after his home had been searched amid child exploitation material and grooming allegations.
An independent review was announced in October last year.
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