Police repeatedly refused detection tool to help in arrest of James Gargasoulas
Police tried repeatedly to obtain a key detection tool to arrest James Gargasoulas in the hours before the Bourke St attack. But they were refused — this is why.
Law & Order
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Federal laws need to be overhauled because they help criminals evade police – who are left with “one arm tied behind our backs”, an inquest has heard.
Detective Senior Sergeant Darren Humphries was a supervisor at Port Phillip CIU and in overall control of the plan to arrest James Gargasoulas hours before he rampaged through Bourke St in a stolen car, killing six innocent people.
Snr Sgt Humphries told the inquest into the victims deaths on Wednesday, police tried repeatedly to obtain a triangulation of a mobile phone Gargasoulas had in the hours before the Bourke St attack.
They were refused – so they had to make other applications which were less precise and caused a lengthy delay until a “ping” from the phone was recorded.
“We as law enforcement – trying to look after the community, should be able to access that information without cost and to track the offender. It should be easy as doing a registration check.”
Snr Sgt Humphries admitted he was “frustrated “ and slammed the bureaucracy which he believed hampered police efforts on January 20, 2017 and was still having an effect today.
“It should be an easy fix, to change Commonwealth legislation. [But] no one is doing anything about it.”
When local police have their request for triangulation rejected – which the inquest has heard is common – they must seek help from the police special services unit.
The inquest has been told the Gargasoulas requests for triangulation didn’t meet requirements of the necessary legislation.
That angered police who had made his arrest “a priority” but police were operating with “one arm behind our backs”.
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He said the situation had been the same for years for police forces throughout Australia which were being prevented for doing jobs “we are pretty good at”.
“We weren’t prepared to just sit back and wait, we were doing everything we possibly could in accordance with police policy to bring him into custody.”
Snr Sgt Humphries also revealed the reason why the police helicopter flew so low while observing Gargasoulas – something that fuelled his anger and he demanded it be removed when he realised it was hovering above him.
“I’ve found out the reason they were flying so low is because their camera wasn’t working.”
He said the chopper was delayed joining the hunt for Gargasoulas – who was wanted for a stabbing attack that nearly killed his brother – because of fuel shortages.
The inquest continues.