A known child sex offender is missing in the community, after police discovered he had not made mandatory reports to authorities and could not find him at his last known location.
Officers published information about Laurence Golding, also known as Lawerence John Wiggins, on the Daniel’s Law database.
Crime Command Acting Detective Superintendent Stephen Blanchfield said Golding had not met his reporting requirements, which can include information on travel or personal details, or any contact with a child.
“This information is published to assist members of the community to make informed decisions where there is a legitimate child protection need,” Blanchfield said.
He said details about Golding made public on the Daniel’s Law registry on Friday – including Golding’s image, name, and birth year – had been released “in line with legislative requirements”.
The register – named Daniel’s Law after slain Sunshine Coast schoolboy Daniel Morcombe – was launched on December 31.
Blanchfield urged anyone who might have seen Golding to report it immediately police.
Brisbane Times is not suggesting Golding has committed any further offences, only that police are seeking his whereabouts.
“If the person is sighted in the community, do not approach them,” Blanchfield said.
In a statement, police said the information could not be used to harass, intimidate, or target a person, and doing so could lead to criminal charges.
In March, the state government revealed two child sex offenders had been charged after they were discovered skipping parts of their mandatory reporting, following tips from their communities.
At the time, police were investigating nine community reports, stemming from concerns about the offenders’ access to children.
Anyone who had concerns about a member of the community can make a report on the Daniel’s Law register.
The register also allows two kinds of searches, which can produce a full list of offenders who had breached reporting duties, and offenders near a selected location.
Sightings can be reported to Policelink through the number 131 444, or in an emergency, to Triple Zero (000).
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