House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-06-02 Daily Xml

Contents

PAEDOPHILE TASK FORCE

In reply to Mrs REDMOND (Heysen) (18 February 2008).

The Hon. M.J. WRIGHT (Lee—Minister for Police, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing): The Acting Deputy Commissioner of Police has advised that the Paedophile Task Force (PTF) is a temporary taskforce within the SAPOL Sexual Crime Investigation Branch. The PTF was originally established in 2004 with four positions. In 2005, staffing levels were increased to 15 sworn police positions and 10 non-sworn positions.

The positions were filled on a secondment basis, with a minimum tenure of two years. Selection of staff followed a registration of interest process. Staffing establishment has remained constant until January 2009 when an additional four investigators were seconded to the PTF to assist with current workloads.

I am further advised one PTF police officer is currently absent on WorkCover leave due to psychological injury. Another PTF member has previously been absent on WorkCover leave due to psychological injury but is now successfully re-integrating into the workplace.

I am also advised as at 1 March 2009, in the four and half years since the PTF commenced, staff changes are as follows:

23 members have completed their secondment and subsequently transferred to other positions within SAPOL;

5 members have undertaken professional development during their secondment to PTF and transferred to criminal investigation positions;

5 members have been promoted from PTF to higher level positions within SAPOL and other government departments;

2 members have resigned to pursue careers outside of SAPOL (real estate and nursing); and

2 have retired.