‘A practice that must stop’: Attorney-General Sonya Kilkenny comes down hard on private bail tracking companies

Attorney-General Sonya Kilkenny has announced she has directed her department for “urgent advice” to end the contracts of private companies who use electronic monitoring to track people on bail.

Sonya Kilkenny has refused to answer questions about the state’s latest bail fail. Picture: Nicki Connolly

The Allan government will put a ban on private companies offering bail tracking services.

In a press conference on Thursday afternoon, Attorney-General Sonya Kilkenny announced she had directed her department for “urgent advice” to end the contracts of private companies who use electronic monitoring to track a person on bail.

“What has happened here is concerning in the sense that we have private companies offering electronic monitoring services and that courts are imposing this as part of bail conditions,” she said.

“It is not appropriate.

“That is a practice that must stop.”

Ms Kilkenny failed to front the media on Thursday. Picture: Aaron Francis

It follows reports that private bail service BailSafe Australia — which uses GPS to track accused offenders — had shut down more than a week ago, sparking fears about the whereabouts of eight alleged criminals.

Ms Kilkenny conceded she only learned that private companies existed after receiving media inquiries.

She was unable to say how many private companies actually operated in Victoria.

Asked how Victorians could have confidence in the Allan government’s ability to tackle crime given the latest bungle, Ms Kilkenny said: “By taking these immediate steps we have identified these private companies are offering these services.”

Ms Kilkenny said Victoria Police still carried out regular bail checks.

more to come

Ms Kilkenny has not fronted the media since the government first announced its so-called review.

Despite repeated requests from journalists on Thursday morning, Ms Kilkenny was unavailable to hold a press conference outside parliament.

Shadow Attorney-General Michael O’Brien said he was stunned that Ms Kilkenny hadn’t been made available to answer questions about the bail bungle.

“She hasn’t been out? Are you serious? That’s extraordinary,” he said.

“She might be a part time Attorney-General because she’s got her planning portfolio which she’s clearly more interested in but the Attorney-General is the first law officer in Victoria.

“She’s obligated to come out and answer questions about her government’s absolute failure to regulate this industry which has led to this collapse which means Victorians are less safe.”

In Question Time on Thursday, Ms Allan said eight alleged criminals were unaccounted for. Picture: 9 News

However, her statement on Thursday afternoon, was emphatic.

It comes as the Office of Public Prosecutions is investigating the major failure, including whether private operators should continue to be responsible for monitoring offenders on bail.

Ms Allan slammed BailSafe on Thursday, saying the lack of communication with state authorities was “utterly unacceptable”.

“BailSafe’s behaviour has been unacceptable in terms of how they have operated, in terms of their decision and their interaction with state authorities,” she said.

“We’ve made it very, very clear.”

Ms Allan was unable to provide a figure for how many criminals used the BailSafe system, saying she was awaiting further advice from the Police Minister.

She said the debacle had no impact on Victoria Police compliance checks.

In a statement, Victoria Police said it would work with the Department of Justice and Community Safety, the Office of Public Prosecutions and the courts.

“These matters are being individually assessed to determine the most appropriate course of action, including any immediate compliance checks that are required,” they said.

Originally published as ‘A practice that must stop’: Attorney-General Sonya Kilkenny comes down hard on private bail tracking companies