POLICE are under-resourced to monitor child sex offenders in the region, the association claims as its campaign to deploy thousands of extra cops intensifies.
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The Police Association of NSW (PANSW) claims the paucity of sex crimes detectives in NSW has led to the whereabouts of 21 offenders becoming unknown.
PANSW President Tony King said the minimum standard should be one police officer dedicated to monitoring every 30 offenders.
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The association said there needed to be 17 additional officers deployed in the Western police region, which takes in station from Tenterfield to Cowra and out to Broken Hill, to cover 435 offenders on the Child Protection Register.
Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Tamworth candidate Jeff Bacon said the Oxley district needed four more officers.
“Our police district is doing the work that a much larger district would be required to do,” Mr Bacon said.
He claimed it was an ongoing issue and said MP Kevin Anderson and had failed to act on it.
“Make no mistake, Kevin Anderson and the National Party know exactly what it will cost to fix this, but they’re more interested in building new stadiums in Sydney with the Liberal Party,” Mr Bacon said.
“He needs to back our community and not the Liberal Party.
“By not acting they are letting child offenders off the hook.”
Mr Anderson told The Leader he supported the push for more police and wanted to see Tamworth at the front of the queue for more cops.
“I had a chat to [police minister] Troy Grant the other day,” he said.
“He has spoken to the police commissioner, he will review the numbers and make the recommendation to the premier.”
PANSW’s president said 150 more officers were needed to manage the current sex offender register.
“Re-offending rates for child sex offenders are incredibly high – almost 50 per cent,” Mr King said.
“We need to be monitoring these people regularly and catching them before they ruin a child’s life.
“Afterwards is too late.
“The legislation in this area is strong.
“Police have the powers to actively monitor and stop these offenders targeting our children, but we just don’t have the resources to do it properly.”