THE SYDNEY DAILY TELEGRAPH p7 March 1 1999

HEADLINE:

PRYING EYES
Strangers grilled at junior surf carnival

Report: John Thirsk and Kylie Keogh
Photo: Nippers after start gun with boards
Caption: Nippers take to the water in the NSW Junior Surf Life Saving Championship at South Maroubra yesterday.

Photographers were checked and police patrolled surrounding bushland as pre-cautions against paedophiles at a junior surf lifesaving event at the weekend.

Organisers of the NSW Junior Surf Life Saving Championships held at South Maroubra beach would only allow those with accredited media passes to take photos of "nippers" competing.

Those without passes were told to leave or their cameras would be confiscated.

One man with a video camera who claimed he was undertaking a project with a university was told to get a pass or leave.

Sources confirmed the man never made it to the media tent to prove his credentials.

Another man of "not great character" was forced to leave the area during the preparation stages last week.

Paul Fownes, one of the co-ordinators of the event and long-time member of the South Maroubra Beach Surf Life Saving Club, said they were "mindful of possible paedophile behaviour.

"The organisers of the last event at Thirroul briefed us on possible problems and unauthorised photographers was one of them." Mr Fownes, a serving police officer said. "It was something we had never really thought about".

"I've already had some reports about people acting suspiciously before the carnival, but they have been dealt with."

The three-day carnival involved some 4000 competitors aged 8 to 14 from 89 NSW clubs and about 10,000 spectators.

Police presence was high with a mobile police command, two mounted officers and a four-wheel motor bike.

Mr Fowne said club officials used their discretion in approaching people taking photos.

"We could tell the difference between parents taking photos of their kids and those who weren't," he said.

"It was those with sophisticated equipment whose motives we questioned.

"If someone is not accredited by a media organisation then police will be asking them about taking photgraphs, who they are of, why they are taking them and what they intend doing with them.

"One man with a video camera who said he was doing a project for a university was told 'If you're legitimate, go to the press office'. He walked away."

Mr Fownes said as a club official he requested the high police presence to deal with any potential "anti-social behaviour".

"The police were kept informed of what to look out for but no one was found lurking in the bushes," he said.

"They went through the surrounding bushland and the mounted police had a look through the nearby rifle range."

Mr Fownes said he would advise the next club which undertakes the championships to "take on the same responsibilities."

A police sergeant from Maroubra said they were not told "specifically" to look out for the paedphiles but would have anyway as part of "normal policing".

"We go to theses events as police and we look for any suspicious behaviour which most of the general public would not think to look for," he said.

Peter Murphy, Maroubra club member and father of twin girls who competed in the event, said the actions came as a "relief".

"After becoming aware these practices were in place, as a parent I felt a lot better," he said.

"But it's not just at the beach, you have to keep a careful eye on your children anywhere since paedophilia was brought out in the media."