Public sex offender register nears 100,000 hits

• WA's Australian-first sex offender register nearing 100,000 hits

• Register leads to surrender of 10 offenders

• State award recognises website for services to community

WA's Australian-first public sex offender register has recorded almost 100,000 hits and led to the surrender of 10 offenders since it was launched in October.

Police Minister Liza Harvey said the offenders had given themselves up after going missing in breach of conditions to report to police.

"These reportable offenders have surrendered to police once they find out that their names and photographs have been placed on the website or are about to be placed on the website," Mrs Harvey said.

"The website is the first of it's kind in Australia. It lists absconded, serious and repeat offenders and it's already proven an effective tool in reducing the number of man hours spent looking for missing offenders and helping to protect the community."

The Minister said the high number of website views showed it was meeting the community's need for information.

"This high level of traffic and inquiries indicates there is strong public interest in information about absconded, serious and repeat offenders," she said.

"The State Government is committed to enhancing the protection of the most vulnerable in our society and this website's focus has been protecting children."

Mrs Harvey said the website complemented other State Government initiatives such as GPS tracking of dangerous sex offenders.

The public sex offender register has also been acknowledged with a State award for services delivery to the community.

The Minister said the website won the 'Services Domain - Government Category' at the WA Information Technology and Telecommunications Awards last month.

Mrs Harvey congratulated the team at WA Police for their hard work and innovation in creating the website.

"I acknowledge the excellent collaboration that has taken place between the IT developers and the frontline officers who worked together to create this website," she said.

         Fact File

• The website provides any member of the public with access to photographs and certain information on the State's most dangerous, absconded and serious repeat sexual offenders

• The WA Information Technology and Telecommunications Awards have been conducted annually since 1991

Minister's office - 6552 5900