Accused criminals asked to come back in seven day to get GPS ankle trackers fitted
ACCUSED criminals ordered to wear GPS ankle trackers while on bail are walking free for seven days because police cannot get the device on the Gold Coast in time.
Crime and Court
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ACCUSED criminals ordered to wear GPS ankle trackers while on bail are walking free for seven days because police cannot get the device on the Gold Coast in time.
The time lapse means the alleged criminals are roaming the Gold Coast with no way for police to track their whereabouts.
When asked about the delay a Queensland Police spokeswoman said: “The GPS monitoring devices are dispatched centrally from Brisbane”.
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There is never one waiting on the Gold Coast, meaning they have to be transported from the state capital every time a Southport magistrate orders one be fitted.
Police declined to say how many devices were in circulation and how much they cost due to “commercial in confidence considerations”.
Two magistrates in Southport Magistrates Court recently ordered trackers be fitted in two different cases, only for the court to be told it would take seven days for police to get to it.
One case involved Steven Edward Smith, 34, who is accused of stabbing millionaire Paul Picone in a Mudgeeraba park this month.
The second case involved Darren Rose, 47, who allegedly supplied drugs as part of a multimillion-dollar Hells Angels ice trafficking ring.
It is not suggested either of these men are breaching their bail conditions.
The ankle bracelets issued on bail are part of a 12-month State Government trial costing taxpayers $2.5 million.
Once fitted, the tracker relies on the alleged offender charging it for at least two hours a day and not damaging, removing or defacing the device.
The ability to issue trackers has only been in place since May and the two cases in Southport are among the first on the Gold Coast.
After the courts granted bail to Smith and Rose, they were told to come back seven days later to be fitted with the bracelets.
The lawyer for both men, Campbell MacCallum, of Moloney MacCallum Abdelshahied Lawyers, said he did not understand the delay.
“The magistrates are now not allowing police to dictate to them how long someone waits in the watchhouse for the device to be fitted,” Mr MacCallum said.
Mr MacCallum said he believed police could fit the devices in a shorter time frame than seven days.
He also said alleged offenders were having to agree to “additional conditions” that were not a part of their bail.
The accused criminals must sign a police document titled “Associated conditions of a tracking device condition”, which has 16 points for them to follow.
“(I must) prevent interference with the device to render it inoperable, cause damage to, destroy, remove, deface, adjust or alter the tracking device or enlist another to do so,” the document said.
“(I must) ensure that the tracking device remains charged at all times and ensure that the device is charged continuously for a minimum of two hours per day.”
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Other conditions include answering their mobile phone or immediately returning missed calls from police, allowing police to visit where they are staying to inspect the device, contact the watchhouse if there are any issues with the device and “ensure the tracking device and all equipment supplied are kept safe and secure”.
Bill Potts, of Potts Lawyers, criticised the use of the bracelets before they were introduced in May. And he hasn’t changed his mind.
“If there is an issue … on a Friday night, nothing is probably going to happen until Tuesday.”
Mr Potts said the devices also relied on the 3G network which in some areas could be unreliable.
However, a Queensland police spokesman dismissed Mr Potts’ comments, saying the GPS tracker is monitored in live time and any issues with the bracelet are dealt with “promptly” by police.
“The hardware is monitored 24 hours a day with any issues promptly dealt with,” the spokesman said.
“Action is also taken against anyone who tapmpers with or causes damages to the devices.”
A police spokeswoman said police were considering other distribution options as a part of the ongoing trial.
“The hardware is continuously monitored with action taken against anyone who tampers with or causes damages to the devices,” she said.
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