NSW Police and Corrective Services NSW have joined forces for a two-day operation to enforce laws with respect to registered child-sex offenders.

The operation was conducted in the by Strike Force Ranok, which comprises 35 specialist and general-duties police, as well as Corrective Services NSW personnel.

A range of specialist officers assisted Newcastle City Local Area Command; including detectives from State Crime Command’s Sex Crimes Squad, as well as the Child Abuse Squad.

A particular focus of the operation was to review computer and other electronic equipment belonging to people convicted of possessing child-abuse materials.

These checks were conducted by specialist technology-enhanced crime officers.

During the operation – which ran from Tuesday 15 September to Wednesday 16 September 2015 – Strike Force Ranok personnel detected 18 breaches of the Child Protection (Offender Reporting) Act 2004. A total of 14 people were charged in relation to these breaches.

Of note, officers arrested a 26-year-old man following the execution of a search warrant. He was charged with:

– Possess child pornography;
– Use carriage service to access child abuse material;
– Fail to comply with reporting obligations;
– Contravene prohibition order;
– Use carriage service transmit/publish/promote child abuse; and
– Produce, disseminate or possess child abuse material.

He was refused bail and appeared in court today (Thursday 17 September 2015).

Acting Newcastle City Local Area Commander, Acting Superintendent Steve Laksa, said the welfare of children is of paramount importance to the NSW Police Force.

“We timed this operation intentionally to coincide with the lead-up to school holidays,” Acting Supt Laksa said.

“This operation under Strike Force Ranok follows another operation of the same nature in the Newcastle area last year, which at the time was the first of its kind.

“This week’s activities ran smoothly and we achieved our aim. The joint-agency approach – collaborating with State Crime Command and Corrective Services – worked extremely well, and I anticipate we will run more operations of this kind,” Acting Supt Laksa said.

Sex Crimes Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent Linda Howlett, said operations of this kind help monitor compliance by registered offenders with their legal obligations under the Act.

“The Sex Crimes Squad constantly works with local police and partner agencies to monitor registered child-sex offenders,” Det Supt Howlett said.

“This operation follows on from last year’s efforts and has allowed police to send a loud, clear and unified message that we will not tolerate breaches of legislation designed to protect children,” Det Supt Howlett said.

Corrective Services NSW Director for Community Corrections in the Hunter, Rod Chenhall, said the joint operation allows both agencies to leverage of each other’s powers to ensure sex offenders are adapting to lawful community life.

“This type of operation adds another layer of monitoring as part of our continued efforts to enhance management of child-sex offenders in the community,” Mr Chenhall said.

“Corrective Services NSW hopes to continue working with NSW Police to ensure these offenders comply with the conditions imposed on them,” he said.