CHILD SEX CRIMINALS

DEPUTY Commissioner of Police (DCP) Harold Phillip says the number of children committing sexual offences is on the rise.

He was speaking yesterday at the first public meeting of the Special Select Committee (SSC) on the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Bill as the SSC met with officials of the police, Prison Service and the Children’s Authority.

SSC member Jennifer Baptiste-Primus said the police, in their submission, asked for children to be included in a sexual offenders registry and she asked what was the experience with child offenders.

Phillip replied: “When the TTPS reviews incidents involving children, especially under the Children Act, we are of the view that – given the increasing numbers of children who seem to be engaging in sexual offences – we are of the view that it is very, very important that they be tracked and monitored.”

He said even though there is rehabilitation, it is very important to ensure the offenders’ parents are given responsibility under the bill to assist in ensuring they comply with the law. “We saw the merit in provision being made to ensure that children are also monitored under this bill.”
Baptiste-Primus asked him for statistics and Phillip replied he had received them, but they were still being perused, and promised to submit them by next week Friday. He also said the list of child sex offenders should not be made public.

Children’s Authority chairman Hanif Benjamin said in the authority’s more than 272 sexual-abuse cases there was a serious overlap as children who were once victims have themselves become perpetrators. He questioned whether court oversight and probation would be sufficient to monitor children charged as sexual offenders.

Baptiste-Primus also asked about the use of reasonable force if the suspect refuses a medical exam. Phillip said the suspect would be restrained to ensure the medical examin is carried out. “It certainly does not mean beating them,” he added.

SSC member Gerald Ramdeen asked if having a use-of-force policy set out in the legislation would assist in guiding police and prison officers, to which Phillip replied that any help would be welcome.