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Tightening Control On Paedophiles

THE State Government should press ahead with legislative plans to prevent known or suspected pedophiles from infiltrating families or organisations which involve children.
The law now allows the courts to grant restraining orders on potential pedophiles who have been detected loitering near children or committing associated offences involving children.
In essence, the law only permits preventative action after an offence has been committed.
There are concerns that the proposals now before Government will infringe on the personal liberty of pedophiles or potential pedophiles, even though they have not technically broken the law.
The Government, the police and relevant Government departments must of course ensure that if the measures are implemented that there is no blatant abuse of the increased powers, and that suspected pedophiles are not victimised or harassed.
But the paramount consideration must be the safety and security of children - the potential victims - not the civil liberties of the potential predators.
The Government is considering the new measures to curb child abuse following a recommendation from senior police.
Effectively, the police are pleading for the powers of early intervention to prevent a child or children being exposed to attack or abuse.
The broad basis of Australian criminal law prevents police from taking action until a crime has been committed.
Someone looking at a jewellery shop window display may be suspected of planning a smash and grab robbery. Until it happens there is no crime.
If the proposed measures dealing with pedophiles steps outside these conventional boundaries of the law then so be it.
Police Minister Kevin Foley and Attorney General Michael Atkinson are right to consider and assess the police call for a change in the law.
The potential benefits of the proposal are transparent. They obviously outweigh the disadvantages.



Adelaide Advertiser 19-6-2004
The Editor




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