Child offenders register to come into force this week

The child offenders register comes into force this week, with the concept extending beyond sexual crimes and including all cases where the courts feel that a convicted person should not be allowed near children.

Home Affairs Minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici said this was milestone legislation, and he considered it one of the most important of the 38 Bills he had presented in Parliament.

Speaking in Parliament on the adjournment, he said the law establishing the child offenders register was a major step that would strengthen protection for one of the most vulnerable components of society.

Persons who were convicted of crimes linked to child abuse could, if a court so decided, be included in the register.

The PN electoral programme had originally spoken of the child offenders register being for people who were convicted of sexual crimes against children.

However, after careful study, his ministry had decided to extend the concept to all other crimes where it was clear that a convicted person should not be near children.

Dr Mifsud Bonnici said the register would not be publicly accessible. It would be kept in the first hall of the Civil Court, in the same section where secret wills were kept.