Child sex offenders register breaches human rights laws – lawyer | Politics | Stuff.co.nz

http://i.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/71091697/child-sex-offenders-register-breaches-human-rights-laws–lawyer

A child sex offenders register could be in place by next year – but the Government’s lawyer says it breaks human rights laws.

Social development minister Anne Tolley introduced legislation on Thursday afternoon to establish a database of all sex offenders aged 18 or over.

But Attorney-General Chris Finlayson has judged it does not comply with the Bill of Rights Act because it imposes “double jeopardy”. It is not consistent with a section of the law which affirms the right not to be subjected to disproportionately severe treatment or punishment.

Under the proposed law, those convicted of the most serious offences will stay on the register for life, with others on the list for between 8 to 15 years. The Government believes about 470 offenders will be registered in the first year, rising to almost 3000 within a decade.