Children

Sex Crimes Squad

Detective Superintendent John Kerlatec

Whilst all police have a role in protection of children, clear areas of responsibility have been established for the investigation of child abuse matters. The Sex Crimes Squad and the Joint Investigation Response Squad (JIRS) were established to ensure provision of a specialist adult sexual assault and child protection service to support Local Area Commands across NSW. These services are offered in partnership with Community Services (formerly Department of Community Services), and the Department of Health.

The Sex Crimes Squad Commander is the Corporate Spokesperson for Sex Crimes. The Commander has a key role in focusing Local Area Commands and Regions response to this crime type through State-wide monitoring.

The aim of the Squad is to:

  • investigate sex crimes that are protracted, complex, serial and serious in nature.
  • identify crime trends, and develop Operational Strategies, Programs and Policies.
  • maintain the Child Protection Register in accordance with Legislative and Policy requirements.
  • provide consultancy in local investigations if necessary.

The Squad includes:

The Child Exploitation Internet Unit

The Child Exploitation Internet Unit investigates the sexual exploitation of children, that is facilitated through the use of the internet and telecommunication systems.

The Child Exploitation Internet Unit:

  • Conducts both proactive and reactive investigations to identify persons utilising the internet to groom and procure children for sexual exploitation.
  • Conducts investigations into the production, dissemination and possession of images of child sexual exploitation (child pornography) facilitated by the internet and telecommunication systems.
  • Coordinates the NSW Police response to matters relating to child sexual exploitation referred from external law enforcement agencies.
  • Provides assistance, specialist advice and technical support to State Crime Command and Local Area Commands relating to the investigation of child sexual exploitation facilitated by the internet or telecommunication systems.
  • Assists with community awareness and education on the safe use of the internet.
  • Maintain professional networks with other State, National and International Law Enforcement bodies and external agencies involved in the investigation of computer facilitated sexual exploitation of children.
  • The CEIU also provides a Help Desk service.

Child Protection Register

The Child Protection Registry has been established to monitor and maintain the New South Wales Police Child Protection Register, as per the Child Protection (Offenders Registration) Act 2000.

Under this Act, persons convicted of a nominated violent or sexual offence against a child will be required to register at the police station in the locality in which they reside, within 28 days of sentencing, release from custody or entering NSW after being found guilty of a registrable offence in another jurisdiction. Registrable persons will be required to provide police with certain personal information, travel plans and any changes to this information. The period of registration is for a minimum of eight years for an adult, four years for a juvenile offender and it is an offence not to register or to provide police with false information.

The management of registrable information is coordinated by the Child Protection Registry, State Crime Command. The monitoring and investigation of registrable persons and offences under the Act will be undertaken by Local Area Commands (LACs) and the Sex Crimes Squad (SCS), State Crime Command.

NSW Police Force Child Wellbeing Unit

The Child Wellbeing Unit for NSWPF commenced on Sunday 24 January 2010. Police, along with Education, Health, and Human Services, have established Child Wellbeing Units to support frontline workers to help children who are in need but not at risk of significant harm. A total of 100 staff have been appointed to run the four units.

The role of the Police Child Wellbeing Unit is to help police officers identify whether a child is at risk of significant harm and therefore has to be referred to Community Services. If a child does not meet this new threshold, the Unit will help officers link the child and family to services and help from other government and community based agencies.

The new system is about sharing responsibility for keeping children safe across government agencies and the community so that more children and families get the support they need before they reach crisis point. Over 60 per cent of these reports are made by government agencies with over 30 per cent from Police alone, mainly due to domestic violence.

These reforms are part of Keep Them Safe, the Government's plan to reform the NSW child protection system following recommendations made by James Wood in his 2008 inquiry into the system.

The Police Child Wellbeing Unit is staffed by Child Wellbeing Assessment Officers. They have backgrounds and qualifications in child protection and include officers with UK child protection experience and qualified social workers. They will be supervised by team leaders with recent operational backgrounds who are experienced in domestic violence supervision and child protection.

The CWU is an internal service to NSWPF employees who are reporting children who do not meet the new risk of significant harm threshold. For all urgent matters regarding a child at imminent risk of significant harm please phone the Child Protection Helpline on 132 111 or 000.