Ireland and UK join forces to track sex offenders
The Irish and British governments will sign a joint agreement next week to stop sex offenders secretly travelling between both jurisdictions.
The memorandum of understanding will aid police investigations of sex offences and also serve to protect the public.
Justice Minister Michael McDowell will sign the charter at Hillsborough on Monday with ministers from the UK Home Office and the Northern Ireland Office.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern told the Dáil today that close co-operation on the issue already existed between the Garda, the PSNI and British police.
He said the memorandum of understanding will enhance the existing information-sharing arrangements on sex offenders between the Republic, the North and the UK.
He added: “Clearly one can never say that nobody can get through the system but everything that has been recorded is available to our police. There are nominated gardaí in each division who have a part to play. Pulse is updated on the position. The Gardaí have the power to monitor convicted sex offenders coming here from abroad and the power to seek a sex offenders order against them if they think they are a danger to the public.”
An intergovernmental advisory group on registered sex offenders has already been established to enable continued and close co-operation and information between these islands.
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