Banned from being near children

Michael Fox at Stuff reports:

Suspected child abusers could be banned from being around children for up to 10 years without being convicted of a crime under a proposed law to be announced today.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett said the restrictions could mean up to 80 people a year are slapped with orders preventing them from working, living and socialising with children, with penalties of three years imposed on those who break the ban.

If police or Child, Youth and Family believe “on the balance of probabilities” someone poses a threat to a child, High Court or District Court judges could impose the ban, similar to restraining orders in cases of domestic violence.

“The court can consider a pattern of behaviour, so it might be that in some cases police have high intel on an individual and their behaviour has been considerably concerning, they don’t have enough evidence to take them to court but they might ask that the courts put a civil order against them.”

Mrs Bennett admitted the law would be controversial but said she was putting the welfare of children first.

It will be interesting to see the details of the law.