Peel Regional Police - Ontario sex offender registry.

April 6, 2001

TORONTO, April 6 /CNW/ - Peel Regional Police are pleased to announce that they are ready for implementation of the Ontario Sex Offender Registry. This law has come about as a result of Bill 31, more commonly known as 'Christopher's Law'. This new legislation allows for tracking the movements of convicted and paroled sex offenders within Ontario. This Bill is expected to be passed into law later this month.

Christopher Stephenson, an eleven-year-old Brampton youth was abducted, sexually assaulted, and murdered by Joseph FREDERICKS, a convicted pedophile, while on parole in 1988. "Our Police Service has taken a very active role in lobbying both the Provincial and Federal Governments for this piece of legislation and have worked very closely with Jim and Ann Stephenson, Christopher's parents," stated Inspector Ken Cull, Officer-In-Charge of Crimes Against Persons.

A designated full time sex offender registrar will work closely with federal and provincial institutions, as well as probation and parole to ensure that convicted sex offenders released into our Region are registered on the Provincial Database.

The Central Registry is located at O.P.P. Headquarters in Orillia and can be accessed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by Peel Regional Police. Deputy Chief Ron Bain, who was the Officer-In-Charge of the Christopher Stephenson investigation stated, "This is an excellent investigative tool, but more importantly it will allow Police to proactively monitor the movements of sex offenders in our area."

For Press Release, click here.