Parents and schools warned about child sex offender

Parents of school children in Christchurch's eastern suburbs have been warned of a child sex offender who is moving into their area.

The parents of students at Linwood College, Linwood Avenue, Christchurch East and Whitau schools have been informed of the situation by the Department of Corrections and Ministry of Education.

Corrections and the ministry have met with the schools’ principals.

The unnamed offender has been living on a community-based sentence for some time.

Parents have been told the offender’s accommodation will be a safe distance from any school or childcare facility.

Corrections southern operations director Chris O’Brien Smith said: “We carry out an extensive and robust process to assess the suitability of every address proposed to accommodate a person with convictions for child sex offences.

"A range of factors are considered.”

Police had also been advised.