Police Operation to protect children

Between August and September, SAPOL conducted 16 days of action to ensure 277 offenders on the Australian National Child Offender Register (ANCOR) were complying with the strict conditions imposed on them.

Acting Officer in Charge of Public Protection Branch, Chief Inspector Kellie Watkins said 46 people were charged with breaching ANCOR obligations under the Child Sex Offenders Registration Act.

"These obligations include notifying police of any change of address or vehicle and disclosing their email addresses. Importantly the offenders must report any contact with children to police,” Chief Inspector Watkins said

During the operation police located eight Serious Registrable Offenders who had failed to report contact with children and six in possession of child exploitation material. Two mobile phones, five tablets/laptops, two hard drives and 71 storage devices were seized, along with cannabis and related equipment.

"Police will continue examining a number of items seized which may result in further charges being laid,” Chief Inspector Watkins said.

"Checks on all registered child sex offenders are a matter of routine for police. The public should be reassured that SAPOL will take every opportunity to police child sex offenders and ensure they comply with their legal obligations.”

Anyone found guilty of an offence against this Act is liable to up to 10 years imprisonment.