Pedophile Network Fears
PEDOPHILES are at risk of being drawn into sex rings after they are released from jail,
heightening the risk they will re-offend.
The warning from a leading criminologist is likely to fuel further controversy over the State Government's
refusal, revealed in The Courier-Mail yesterday, to reveal the whereabouts of more than 1800 pedophiles living in Queensland.
Queensland University of Technology criminologist Tricia Fox said new pedophile rings were an inevitable
outcome of releasing sex offenders.
"It's been known to happen, just simply because they've got no one else to engage with," Dr Fox said.
"Like-mindeds stick with like-mindeds and it's not just pedophiles – it's all offenders that tend to
gravitate to each other.
"The possibility of a pedophile re-offending is about 100 per cent . . . once you're a pedophile,
you're a pedophile."
Dr Fox's comments echo Premier Peter Beattie's remarks, who last month said pedophiles were incapable
of being reformed.
But the Government is keeping secret the location of 1878 released pedophiles living under supervision
orders, which require them to report regularly to police.
The veil of secrecy has been extended even further by Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson, who has refused
to reveal in which prisons 558 other offenders are being held.
Courier Mail (14-8-2007)
Marin Philip
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Politicians Bicker Over Crime Stats
QUEENSLAND'S government has hailed a 7 per cent drop in the
state's overall crime rate with murders, robberies and
sex offences decreasing.
Police Minister Judy Spence said today latest police statistics
showed the crime rate for the 2004-05 financial year fell for the
fourth successive year. She said statewide murder offences dropped
15 per cent, kidnapping and abduction fell 14 per cent, armed robbery
11 per cent and credit card fraud dropped 38 per cent.
But the state opposition said the police statistics also reveal that
four out of every five home invaders in Queensland walk free.
Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg said only 4930 of the 28,890
broken into homes during the year were cleared by police.
Mr Springborg said police needed more resources so that these crimes
could be cleared.
"The figures show there are three homes broken into every hour of
every day in Queensland, weekday, weekend or public holiday," he said.
"That's what's happening out there.
AAP (9-11-2005)
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