VIENNA Alfred Gusenbauer, the Austrian Chancellor, has unveiled measures to combat sex crimes after it was alleged that the man accused of imprisoning his daughter for 24 years and fathering seven children by her had been convicted of sex crimes in the 1960s.

Josef Fritzl, 73, allegedly committed a rape in 1967, but under Austrian law all convictions except those for crimes carrying a life sentence are eventually expunged from the record. When police carried out routine background checks on him after he reported his daughter missing 24 years ago, his record was technically clean, as it was when he applied to adopt three of the children born after his abuse.

Mr Gusenbauer announced that the criminal records of convicted sex offenders would now be held on file for 30 years and serious offences would no longer be wiped away.

The proposals agreed by the Cabinet also said that convicted sex criminals would be banned from carrying out certain professions and would not be allowed to adopt children.

Commentary: a society that nurtures secrets

What society would accept the probability of three children being left on the doorstep of Josef F and grant him adoption?

Multimedia

• Pictures: house of horror

Background

• Why are child abuse scandals happening in Austria?

• Analysis: damage caused may never be healed

• Austria: sedate town is stunned by news

• Police search other Fritzl properties in Austria

If the legislation is adopted it will come into effect from January 1, 2009. (AFP)

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