Key Takeaways
- Almost 105,000 Queenslanders have accessed the state’s register of child sex offenders since it went live on New Year’s Eve.
- The register, known as Daniel’s Law, provides photos of dangerous child sex offenders to the public under strict access guidelines.
- There have been almost 22,000 completed "tier 2" applications for locality-based searches and 60 "tier 3" applications.
- Police Minister Dan Purdie says people have overwhelmingly been using the register wisely, with only one person being dealt with for releasing information obtained through the database.
Introduction to Daniel’s Law
The state of Queensland has recently launched a register of child sex offenders, known as Daniel’s Law, in memory of slain Sunshine Coast schoolboy Daniel Morcombe. The register went live on New Year’s Eve and has since been accessed by almost 105,000 Queenslanders. The register provides photos of dangerous child sex offenders to the public under strict access guidelines, allowing community members to find out about high-risk offenders in their area. Police Minister Dan Purdie announced on Sunday that people have overwhelmingly been using the register wisely, with no reported instances of vigilantism.
Accessing the Register
To access the register, community members are required to prove their identity and are warned that it is a criminal offence to share the photographs provided or to intimidate or harass a suspected offender. This is ostensibly to prevent or discourage acts of vigilantism. Despite these warnings, police have had to deal with one person who released information obtained through the database. The individual has been given a notice to appear in court. Purdie said that the Crisafulli government looked at similar systems rolled out in other states, which have also reported instances of information being shared. However, he noted that overwhelmingly, communities in WA and elsewhere have used it wisely, and we’re seeing that here.
Usage of the Register
The register has been used by community members to find out about high-risk offenders in their area. There have been almost 22,000 completed "tier 2" applications for locality-based searches, enabling Queenslanders to find out about any high-risk offenders in their area. Additionally, there have been 60 "tier 3" applications, which allow parents and caregivers to find out if someone who has unsupervised access to their child is a registered child sex offender. Acting Police Commissioner Cheryl Scanlon said that from the 60 tier 3 applications, there were four "hits" on a reportable offender with whom someone was thinking about letting their children have contact. She noted that there were no offences detected by any of those individuals, but it was great for us to be able to reach in, connect with those families, go through preventative strategies, and give them the confidence.
Technical Challenges
The volume of interest in the register has been a "big load" on the system, requiring technical support from other areas of government, such as the Department of Transport and Main Roads. Scanlon said that the police had to deal with the technical challenges, but it was a good result that only one person had done the wrong thing. Purdie said that the government had looked at similar systems rolled out in other states, which have also reported instances of information being shared. However, he noted that the government had taken steps to prevent or discourage acts of vigilantism, and it was working.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the launch of Daniel’s Law has been a success, with almost 105,000 Queenslanders accessing the register since it went live on New Year’s Eve. The register has provided community members with valuable information about high-risk offenders in their area, and has helped to prevent or discourage acts of vigilantism. While there have been some technical challenges, the police have been able to deal with them, and the register has been used wisely by the community. As Purdie said, the government trusted people with that information, and we’re seeing that here. The register is an important tool in keeping Queenslanders safe, and it will continue to be an important part of the state’s efforts to prevent child sex offences.
