13 Oct 2011

Convicted sex offender to be relocated

5:11 pm on 13 October 2011

The Department of Corrections says it has decided to relocate a convicted sex offender who had been paroled to a South Auckland community.

It follows calls from some Otara residents and community leaders for the department to move the man who lives near several schools.

Spokesperson Darius Fagan says it will be moving the man in the near future to an undisclosed location.

Mr Fagan says a significant amount of preparation goes into approving a suitable home for a child sex offender and public safety is of primary concern.

He says no address would be approved if it was considered there was an undue risk to the safety of the community.

The man has been receiving 24-hour support from an experienced service provider and completed a sex offending treatment programme while in jail.