The Queensland Police Service (QPS) has announced it is planning tougher measures to hunt down child sex offenders.
The QPS said the new laws would support police efforts to stop reportable offenders using the latest online technology to offend against children.
“We will have expanded powers to enter the residence of a reportable offender to undertake a digital device inspection,” the QPS said.
The initiative comes after police reported a disturbing increase in child sex offenders using new web technology and the anonymity of on-line offending to harm children.
Minister for Police, Mark Ryan said since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, police kept discovering child sex offenders using new web technology to target children.
“Currently, advanced anonymising software exists, such as virtual private networks and hidden phone applications, allowing these predators to remain invisible online, hiding evidence of their child sex offending,” Mr Ryan said.
He said the Child Protection (Offenders Reporting and Offender Prohibition Order) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2022 targeted technology-based offending.
They were another tool the QPS could use to pursue child sex offenders.
“These offenders are the lowest of the low, and I am determined they’ll have nowhere to hide. As technology changes, it is critical police are given the tools they need to keep the pressure on child sex offenders,” Mr Ryan said.
