Violent offenders on GPS trackers to lower domestic violence in Australia

New hi-tech GPS trackers have been fitted to high-risk offenders in a series of trials across Australia to reduce domestic violence.

Exclusive: GPS trackers have been fitted to high-risk offenders in a series of trials to reduce domestic violence.

News Corp Australia can exclusively reveal that the trackers create a digital “exclusion zone” around victims that if breached immediately alert authorities.

And the trackers are live now.

Alcohol monitoring bracelets, that attach to a person’s wrist or ankle and look for the presence of alcohol in sweat, are also being trialled in a bid to reduce family violence.

The bracelet sends a text message to the wearer urging them to be respectful and not commit an act of family violence.

Additionally, the Morrison government will on Saturday announce funding for a study into how to protect against various forms of technology-facilitated abuse.

The Office of the eSafety Commissioner will research tools that can digitally sweep the homes of domestic violence victims to see if they are being tracked by their violent ex-partner by malicious software or covertly-installed hardware.

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GPS trackers create a digital “exclusion zone” around victims that if breached immediately alert authorities.

The office will also conduct a study on the ways children unintentionally disclose their identity to perpetrators of technology-facilitated abuse, and how to reduce this risk.

On average, one woman a week is murdered by her current or former partner and

one in three Australian women have experienced physical violence since the age of 15.

One in 16 men have experienced physical and/or sexual violence by a cohabiting partner since age 15.

Both women and men are more likely to experience violence at the hands of men, with around 95 per cent of all victims of violence in Australia reporting a male perpetrator.

Thousands of Australian victims and perpetrators are taking part in the trials which if successful could be implemented nationally.

ESafety Commissioner and former Twitter and Microsoft executive Julie Inman Grant said technology-facilitated abuse was devastating for victims.

“Sadly, there are countless ways technology can be misused by perpetrators to stalk, control and abuse their partners or ex-partners, but we also know technology can be a lifeline for victims, especially for those looking to connect with loved ones and escape abuse,” Ms Inman Grant said.

Both women and men are more likely to experience violence at the hands of men.

Minister for Families and Social Services Paul Fletcher said: “The Morrison Government has zero tolerance for violence against women.”

Minister for Women Kelly O’Dwyer said the new tools would “be of great benefit to women across Australia.”

Chief executive of No to Violence, Jacqui Watt, said while technology would play its part in reducing family and domestic violence a co-ordinated whole-of-community approach was needed.

“GPS-monitoring bracelets have their place, but only if the whole domestic and family violence system can become smarter at recognising the risk the man poses, as well as listening to what she, the affected family member needs,” Ms Watt said.

Julie Oberin CEO of WESNET said technology would not help all victims.

She said victims needed to be consulted more as they knew what would stop their perpetrator the most.

“Every case is different and we can’t just have a standard approach with technology,” Ms Oberin said.

While technology can play its part in reducing family and domestic violence, a co-ordinated whole-of-community approach is needed, anti-violence advocates say.

Sydney-based Kay Schubach was almost murdered in her apartment 13-years-ago by a violent ex-partner.

“It was a whirlwind romance that escalated into violence very quickly and he tried to murder me by smothering me on the floor of my apartment,” Ms Schubach told News Corp Australia today.

The behaviour was a pattern with a number of women and Ms Schubach’s perpetrator was jailed.

In December last year he was released on early parole and ever since Ms Schubach’s life has been filled with tremendous anxiety.

“I would really like a sweeping device that I could use in my home or my car,” she said.

“And I think GPS monitoring is a good thing but we need to be constantly looking to new technologies and ways we can keep victims safe. It only takes a second to slit someone’s throat and the technology needs to be fast enough to really make a difference.”

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NATIONAL ANNOUNCEMENT

— Support for the Office of the eSafety Commissioner to research development of a tool that could sweep a victim’s devices or physical environment to establish whether their technology has been compromised by malicious software or covertly-installed hardware.

— Two AppBooks to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander elders to recognise, call out and manage technology-facilitated abuse.

— A study by the Office of the eSafety Commissioner into the ways children unintentionally disclose their identity to perpetrators of technology-facilitated abuse, and how to reduce this risk.

— $1.39 million for the Office of the eSafety Commissioner and the AIDS Council of NSW (ACON) to undertake technology trials to keep victims safe

WHAT PROGRAMS ARE BEING TRIALLED

These are a sample of some of the DV trials and programs that have already begun, been completed or are about to start around the country:

* Reducing Alcohol-Related Domestic and Family Violence (using behavioural insights) — trialling transdermal alcohol monitoring bracelets worn by trial participants (domestic violence offenders) teamed with behavioural messaging. (NSW)

* GPS Monitoring — Monitoring of high risk perpetrators — using GPS technology to create an exclusion zone and alert police and the victim when the perpetrator is nearby. (NSW, TASMANIA, SA)

* Family Violence Court Journey App (YourCase) — is a web app that will allow family violence victim survivors to track, document and interact with their court proceedings digitally. (VICTORIA)

* Family Violence Video Consulting Project — trialling high quality, secure video call access to services (i.e. women’s refuges and legal) that support the safety of rural and remote women and children. (VICTORIA)

* Scoping study — to research the best practice approach for trialling GPS monitoring or a similar technological solution. (QUEENSLAND)

* Videoconferencing — development of facilities for vulnerable witnesses in rural and remote areas to enable them to give evidence safely in court proceedings. (NORTHERN TERRITORY)