AWOL pedophiles 'can't be named' says Minister

Article from:

Anna Caldwell

July 16, 2009 01:48pm

THE State Government can't find eight paroled child sex offenders who moved house without telling authorities - but it says it can't release their names or photos.

It was revealed in State Budget Estimates hearings yesterday that eight child sex offenders were roaming unaccounted for, despite legislation requiring them to report their address.

But Minister for Police and Corrective Services Neil Roberts said it was not legal for the government to release the offenders' names or photos.

``There is clear international evidence that type of regime drives people underground,'' Mr Roberts said.

There are 3100 people on the child sex offender register, and the eight listed as missing yesterday have been missing for several months _ one since October 2008.

When found they will face fines of up to $15,000 and up to two years jail.

Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson has promised to regularly update the Queensland public with information about the sex offenders.

Opposition police spokesman Vaughan Johnson, who first raised the issue at the Estimates hearing, said the blunder was clear evidence the supervision system wasn’t working.

``We shouldn’t be letting these people out of jail if they are clearly incompetent of doing the right thing,’’ Mr Johnson said.

``If in doubt, don’t let them out.

``Police are working hard to find these people but the bottom line is the community has no idea where these eight are lurking, leaving our children unsafe.’’