Public will not access sexual offences register: Maharaj

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Public will not access sexual offences register: Maharaj

MEMBERS of the public will not have access to the register that contains names and details of sexual related offenders.

Alvick Maharaj, chairman of the Standing Committee on Justice, Law and Human Rights on the Registration of the Sex Offenders Bill 2018, made this known at yesterday’s public submission in Lagalaga, Macuata.

In reiterating the purpose of the Bill, Mr Maharaj said only authorised organisations such as the police, Ministry of Education and Social Welfare would have access to the register.

“The objective of this Act is to establish a register containing information on sex offenders to enable specified agencies to monitor sex offenders,” he said.

“This is to assist in reducing the risk posed by sex offenders and the rate of sexual offences in Fiji by providing specified agencies with the information needed to monitor sex offenders in the community including after the completion of their sentences,” he said.

“Also by providing current information that may assist the Fiji Police Force to rapidly resolve cases of sexual offences so once we have the register, no members of the public will have access to it.”

The reason for having a sexual offender register, Mr Majaraj said was to assist police in monitoring sexual offenders in society.

“If we have a new resident shifting to Lagalaga, the register will enable police to know whether the person is a sexual offender,” he said.

“And the police will not and can’t tell the public that this person is a sexual offender but will instead monitor whether this offender is hanging out with kids or with young boys and girls.

“At this point in time, we don’t have a register so Police won’t be aware whether a person is a sexual offender or not.”

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