Who has to report?

If you have been convicted and a conviction has been recorded for an offence involving any sexual activity with someone under 16 (including sexting more than one time), you can be put on the Child Protection Offender Reporting Register. This means you have to report details about yourself and where you are to police. This is so police can keep track of where you are living and working. If you have not been found guilty of a sexual offence against a person under 16, but you have been convicted of another offence and the court thinks you are a sexual risk to anyone under 16 it can order you to report details about yourself and your movements. You must be given a written document by a Youth Justice Officer or Police Officer which says what things you have to report to police about. If you think the court should not have made this order speak to your lawyer about an appeal.

If you have to report, your details will be put on the Child Protection Offender Reporting Register. Only certain people can see this register and they have to keep the information confidential. You may also be recorded on a national sex offenders register. Once someone’s name is on the Queensland register it can only be removed if the police agree. There are serious employment consequences for anyone who is recorded on the register, for example they may not be allowed to be a teacher, nurse or child care worker. If you have been ordered to report because of child sex offences in another state of Australia and you come to Queensland for more than 14 days, you must tell the police in Queensland you are here.

What do I have to report?

You must report all the following information and report when anything in the list changes (including stopping or starting some activity, e.g. a child living with you) within the time allowed. Information you must report includes:

When do I have to report?

You will be given a Notice of Reporting obligation which will tell you when you need to first report.

• Generally you need to report within 7 days of being sentenced for the offence
• If you are in detention then you will need to report within 7 days of leaving detention
• If you have just moved to Queensland and you had to report in your previous state or country, then you must contact a police station within 7 days of arriving in Queensland

You will then be required to make periodic reports starting in the first month following the initial report.

If you plan to leave Queensland for 48 hours or more in a row to travel elsewhere in or outside of Australia then at least 7 days before you leave you need to tell the police where you plan to go, the dates and address you will be staying at each place, when you will be back and the details of any contact that you will have with children outside the random contact in everyday life. If you change your travel plans or decide not to go you also need to report that within 48 hours. The Queensland police will give a copy of the report of your travel plans to the Australian Federal Police. When you return to Queensland, you must report your return within 48 hours remaining and entering in Queensland.

How long to do I have to report for?

The length of time you have to report for depends on the specific offences you have been found guilty of and whether you were later found guilty of further sexual offences against people under 16 years of age.

Where and how do I report?

If you are given a Notice that says you have to report at a particular police station then you need to report at that station in person, otherwise you can report to your local police station in person. You should take ID to show who you are or the police officer may take your fingerprints. You must provide a DNA sample to the police if they ask for it.

You must report in person for your first report, yearly reports, reports about change of address and a report about a new tattoo, removal of tattoo, change to a tattoo or new permanent mark on your body. The police officer may require you to be photographed.

Other reports can be made by telephone or online to your police station. Speak to the police about organising this. When you report in person you can ask to speak to the police where other people cannot hear and you can have someone with you to support you. As soon as possible after the police receive your report, the police officer must send you a letter with a copy of the information you reported.

What if I move to a different state?

The law says you have to tell the police in Queensland if you plan to move out of Queensland. The law in your new state might also say you have to report to the police once you get there.

What if I don’t report when I am meant to or lie when I report?

If you don’t comply with the reporting obligations, unless you can prove you have a reasonable excuse, you are committing an offence.

Can my phone be accessed by police?

If the police reasonably believe that you have committed an offence then they have the power to take your electronic devices.