Child Protection Offender Register (NT)

The NT Child Protection Offender Register exists to reduce the chances that convicted sex offenders will be able to re-offend and to help the police in their investigation of, and prosecution for, any future offences that those persons might commit. It is governed by the Child Protection (Offender Reporting and Registration) Act.

Who must register on the Child Protection Offender Register?

Any person in the NT, who since 11 April 2004, has been sentenced for a reportable offence is placed on the Child Protection Offender Register. Any person who relocates to the NT and has been made the subject to an offender reporting order outside of the Territory is also placed on the NT Register and has reporting obligations.

Offence

Failing to comply with reporting obligations is an offence that carries maximum penalties of a fine of up to 100 penalty units or imprisonment for five years.

Accessing the Register

The information on the Offenders Register cannot be accessed by the general public. It is available only to authorised persons and may only be shared or disclosed to others who are similarly authorised.

Registrable offences

Registrable offences are of two types (class 1 or class 2 offences). Other offences may also result in the making of an offender reporting order.

Class one offences include:

• sexual intercourse with a child under 16
• gross indecency involving a child under 16
• sexual intercourse or gross indecency of a disabled person by anyone who is providing a service to that person
• sexual relationship with a child
• incest
• murder or manslaughter of a child
• deceptive recruiting for sexual services.

Class two offences include:

• possession of child pornography
• possession and publishing of certain articles containing indecent images
• sexual intercourse or gross indecency involving a child over 16 under special care
• attempting to procure a child under the age of 16
• the enticement, abduction, or detention of child under 16 years for immoral purposes
• prostitution offences involving an infant.

Initial Reporting Details for the Community Protection Offender Register in the NT

When first reporting to the police, a person who is required to report must report the following information:

• their name, along with any other name by which they have previously been known and when they were known as such
• their address or addresses – temporary or permanent
• their date of birth
• the names of any children who generally live at the same address or with whom they have regular unsupervised contact
• full details of their employment
• details of any affiliation with any organisation or club which allows child membership or the participation of children in its activities
• full details of any motor vehicle owned or driven by them
• details of permanent distinguishing marks and tattoos, including any that have been removed
• details of any convictions outside of the NT for a reportable offence or an offence that required them to report
• details of any time they have spent in custody anywhere for a reportable offence since being sentenced for this offence
• full details of any intended frequent travel to any destination
• all telephone numbers and email addresses they use or may use
• full details of any internet service used, including usernames and providers
• any other information required by the Regulations.

Initial Reporting Obligations

A person listed on the Sex Offenders Register in the NT must make an initial report to police:

• if the registrable offender is not in custody, within seven days
• if the person is in custody, within seven days of their release and, if intending to leave the NT within those seven days, before they leave
• if they are travelling to the Territory, within 14 days of arriving in the Territory
• if a notice is received advising them that they must report, within seven days of receiving that notice
• if, while in the NT, a person is convicted of a reportable offence in another jurisdiction, within seven days of becoming a reportable offender.

Ongoing Reporting Obligations

The period over which a person on the Community Protection Offenders Register in the NT has to report is determined by the offence(s) for which they have been convicted.

A person convicted of a class 2 offence must report for eight years. A person convicted of a class 1 offence, or multiple class 2 offences, must report for 15 years. If a person is convicted again for a registrable offence, then they must report for the rest of their life.

The person must report:

• each year, during the same calendar month as they made their initial report
• if the registrable person has been in custody since the last report, details of when and where that custody occurred
• if the registrable person has any intention of travelling either within the state, outside of the state or internationally, full details of their travel plans.

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