Tough new penalties to stop paedophiles and drug traffickers

21/9/04
Convicted paedophiles face two years in jail and fines of $24,000 if they are caught meeting or communicating with other child sex offenders under proposed new laws introduced into State Parliament this week.
Declared drug traffickers also face the same punishment if they are caught meeting or communicating with another drug dealer.
Under current law, the penalty for habitually consorting with a reputed criminal is a fine of up to $2,500.
Attorney General Jim McGinty said the tough new penalties were designed to stop paedophiles and drug traffickers getting together or communicating by phone, fax, SMS or Internet to plot more crimes.
"Child sex offenders are disgusting individuals who often work together as part of a ring of paedophiles," Mr McGinty said.
"By preventing them from consorting and communicating with each other police can stop these sick crimes on vulnerable children."
Acting Assistant Commissioner of Strategic Policy Ross Napier said police were currently powerless to stop declared drug traffickers and child sex offenders associating with others who shared their same habits and beliefs.
"The new laws will enable the police to disrupt the criminal activities of these groups and put a big dent in their ability to exchange information and organise their activities," Mr Napier said.
"This is an extremely powerful piece of legislation, as the term 'consort' includes to communicate in any manner.
"These provisions will not only make it an offence for declared drug traffickers and child sex offenders to meet face to face, but also from communicating with one another using technology such as the Internet, SMS, phones, faxes and even the post.

"This is a major step forward in the fight against these serious crimes."
The proposed laws make it an offence for a person who is a child sex offender or drug trafficker to habitually consort with another paedophile or drug trafficker if they have been warned by a police officer that:

• the other person is a child sex offender/drug trafficker; and
• consorting with the other person may lead to the first child sex offender/drug trafficker being charged with an offence.

Convicted paedophiles also face a two-year jail term and $24,000 fine for loitering near a school, kindergarten, child-care centre, or any other public place where children are regularly present, without reasonable excuse.
Mr McGinty said this provision was based on laws introduced in New South Wales and complemented proposed Western Australian legislation for mandatory reporting obligations for recidivist paedophiles, as well as the sex offender register.
"Our new laws are another significant step in the Gallop Government's program for an effective response to child protection in WA," he said.
The Criminal law Amendment (Simple Offences) Bill 2004 is due to be introduced into Parliament on Thursday.
Attorney General's office: 9220 5000