Abuse Offenders Shopping Around Early Childhood Services To Remain Undetected

A New South Wales parliamentary inquiry has revealed alarming gaps in the childcare sector’s ability to detect and prevent child abuse, with NSW Police warning that some offenders are deliberately “shopping around” for centres with weak safeguards.

Detective Superintendent Linda Howlett, Commander of the State Crime Command's Child Abuse Squad, testified that certain offenders actively seek out childcare centres lacking robust protective measures. These individuals move between centres, avoiding those with strong protocols and settling in environments where they can offend undetected.

“They’ll find a centre that’s perhaps not adhering to the processes and then stay there,” Howlett said. “That’s how they get to offend against the children.”

Police currently lack access to data explaining why workers move between centres, making it difficult to identify patterns or red flags. Howlett advocated for a centralized, intelligence-based database to track concerning behaviors—even those not resulting in criminal charges.

The inquiry also highlighted a troubling reluctance among parents and educators to report abuse directly to police. Many are discouraged by centre directors or internal investigations, which can contaminate evidence and delay justice.

“Do not approach the director of the centre,” Howlett advised. “Let police handle it—we have specialist investigators trained to interview children.”

Superintendent Howlett recommended mandatory dual staffing in rooms with children and emphasized the value of CCTV in gathering evidence. Despite concerns about staffing costs, she stressed that child safety must be prioritized.

“Once a child has been offended against, that has ramifications for the rest of their lives,” she said.

The inquiry also examined the Working With Children Check (WWCC) system. Acting Children's Guardian Rachael Ward acknowledged gaps in information sharing between regulatory agencies. One case involved a childcare worker retaining clearance despite a prohibition notice issued four years earlier.

Efforts are underway to formalize inter-agency data sharing through a memorandum of understanding, aiming to close loopholes and improve compliance oversight.

Reference:
NSW Police Worried Child abusers Who 'Shop Around' Care Centres Are Going Undetected