State politicians given app after safety scares but it gets triggered by phone covers

Heightened security concerns and growing tensions in the community have led to NSW ministers and MPs being given personal duress alarms.

Heightened security concerns and growing tensions in the community have led to NSW ministers and MPs being given personal duress alarms.

However, the emergency phone app is already being criticised by some MPs as unsuitable with “mum covers” for phones triggering the alarm ­accidentally.

As revealed by The Sunday Telegraph, MPs have been calling for calls for greater security amid a rise in incidents, including death threats.

In one case, a female MP – who requested not to be named – received a call from a man threatening to turn up to her office and knock people out with a cricket bat, while state opposition health spokeswoman Kellie Sloane was called a “whore” in a series of disturbing emails sent over a three-month period.

Also Jorden Patten, 19, was charged with one count of “other acts in preparation for or planning for a terrorist act” after allegedly turning up to the office of Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp armed with knives and other tactical ­equipment.

There have been calls for the app to be replaced with a separate duress alarm device that can be carried in a pocket or a bag.

At a court appearance in June, acting magistrate Anthony Spence said Mr Patten’s matter had strong overtones of mental health issues.

Under previous security arrangements, NSW MPs had access to a “red button” hidden in their electorate office to press in the event of an emergency.

Following growing calls for improved security arrangements, parliamentary services granted ministers and MPs ­access to a special emergency app. The app is present on the home screen of the phone, enabling MPs to simply touch it when needing help.

However, the ease at which it can be activated has already led to some false alarms.

Last Monday – and again on Thursday – the special constables in Parliament House were alerted to two separate “help” calls by Police Minister Yasmin Catley, one when she was in the chamber.

Ms Catley’s office blamed app malfunction on both occasions.

Police Minister Yasmin Catley. Picture: NewsWire/Damian Shaw

Lynda Voltz MP.

Labor MP Lynda Voltz – who led the calls for improved security for female MPs – said, in some cases, the app was activated by phone covers.

Ms Voltz, a former soldier, wants the app to be replaced with a separate duress alarm device that can be carried in a pocket or a bag.

“If you have a phone cover, the kind they call a mum cover that is filled with credit cards and flips over the screen, when it closes it can automatically hit where the button is,” she said.

“It’s clearly been designed by blokes. What I wanted was a duress button that you carry. One that is in your handbag or your pockets. I have pointed out to the clerk and a couple of other people that this one was going to be a problem.”

Do you have a story for The Telegraph? Message 0481 056 618 or email [e-mail]