Victims of a paedophile police officer in Tasmania are to receive compensation and the state’s corruption watchdog is to be strengthened after the government accepted all recommendations of an investigation.
An independent investigation by former war crimes prosecutor Regina Weiss found that as early as 1988, Sergeant Paul Reynolds had exploited his status as a “trusted” member of the community to harass and abuse up to 52 boys.
Reynolds, who continued working for a decade after the first allegations were made against him, died by his own hand in September 2018 while under investigation for child abuse.
The review’s five recommendations have been fully accepted by Tasmanian Police Commissioner Donna Adams, with two more pending government approval.
This includes a framework to enable police to identify and deal with people who have been abused or manipulated by officers in the force, and a team within the Tasmanian Police Service to support victims of sexual offences committed by former or current officers.
Ms Weiss also called on the police to increase citizen engagement and build trust between the police, vulnerable groups and sports and recreational organizations to prevent, detect and report grooming and sexual abuse.
Recommendations currently being considered by the government include a compensation program for victims in the Reynolds case and extending the Integrity Commission’s powers to include compulsory audits so that it can investigate all reports of sexual abuse by police officers.
Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff promised on Wednesday to “appropriately implement” the inquiry’s recommendations, with Police Minister Felix Ellis saying implementation would be done “as a priority.”
Ms Weiss presented her report on Thursday after hearing the views of 87 people, including 15 victims and survivors or their families.
She concluded that Reynolds used his perception of power as a police officer to harass and abuse his victims and their families.
Ms. Weiss said he was heavily involved in football and basketball coaching and administration and used sports as his “hunting ground,” often targeting children under the guise of giving them massages or sports therapy.
The review found deficiencies in the reporting of Reynolds’ crimes in sport and by the police that played a role in his decades-long crime spree.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
National Sexual Abuse Victim Support and Reparation Service 1800 211 028
Lifeline 13 11 14
Beyondblue 1300 22 4636
Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for people aged 5 to 25 years)