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Auckland school principal: We weren't told about sex offenders

Author
Natasha Jojoa Burling,
Publish Date
Fri, 9 Mar 2018, 7:38AM
Otahuhu Primary School's principal says Corrections never notified him several sex offenders were living close to his school. (Photo \ File)

Auckland school principal: We weren't told about sex offenders

Author
Natasha Jojoa Burling,
Publish Date
Fri, 9 Mar 2018, 7:38AM

An Auckland school principal is demanding to know why he wasn't told sex offenders are living near the school.

Corrections have confirmed 11 sex offenders are being housed at two properties on one street in Otahuhu.

The department held a meeting with local school principals a couple of weeks ago.

Otahuhu Primary School principal, Jason Swann, told Kate Hawkesby the first he heard about it, was when the media contacted him.

He wants to know the details, such as the number of offenders.

"I would also like to know what sort of precautions are in place to make sure the offenders are supervised, and supervised well. I don't know what the supervision structure is for these offenders."

The department held a meeting with local school principals a couple of weeks ago.

Mt Richmond Special School principal Kathy Dooley says the person who went on her behalf was left with the impression they would be notified when the people were actually being moved in, and that that never happened.

But Swann says the Corrections Department hasn't been in touch with him.

"It is quite a concern. It's obviously a concern for us at school, obviously there a number of issues  we need to discuss with Corrections, so I'll be trying to follow that up this morning."

In the meantime Otahuhu Primary School will be reiterating safety messages to the children, and the school has a lot of programmes like safe walking, stranger danger and keeping yourself safe.

"So we will reinforce those strategies with the kids, particularly today. Then we'll also need to communicate with parents to let them know what's in place."

LISTEN ABOVE AS JASON SWANN SPEAKS WITH KATE HAWKESBY

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