Lack of laws on abuser data hinders child safety

THE absence of laws to allow the sharing of “soft information” on paedophiles is severely hampering child protection, the country’s top children’s watchdog has warned.

Geoffrey Shannon, Special Rapporteur on Child Protection, said his fourth report was a damning indictment of failed care for youngsters across state agencies.

Issues highlighted in the report were homelessness, child protection guidelines, criminality, mental health and prostitution.