GPS trackers should be used on high-risk family violence offenders: MP
A former cop turned state MP has endorsed the use of GPS tracking devices to monitor family violence offenders in a bid to stop the “unacceptable” levels of domestic violence in society.
VIC News
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A former Victoria Police detective and current MP is lobbying the state government to expand the use of GPS trackers for high-risk family violence offenders.
Stuart Grimley, state leader of the Justice Party and member for Western Victoria, is also pushing for increased electronic monitoring of violent recividist offenders living in the community.
Mr Grimley, who worked for Victoria Police for over seven years, described the amount of family violence in society as “unacceptable” during Question Time in state parliament today.
He endorsed GPS tracking of offenders, explaining it is cost effective, would ease pressure on high prison populations and mean low level offenders will not mix with more serious offenders behind bars.
“Electronic monitoring bracelets are a great way to monitor sex offenders — we should be looking to expand the use of this technology to recidivist and family violence offenders,” he said.
“Electronic monitoring has come a long way with technological developments and I think this approach should be expanded to family violence and recidivist violent offenders.”
“With unacceptable levels of domestic violence, and violence against women and children so prevalent in our society, it simply makes sense.”
Mr Grimley said the GPS trackers would help police monitor intervention order breaches, which are common in family violence cases.
The technology could also help enforce curfew and exclusion zone requirements.
Mr Grimley said it was an important victims can feel safe.
“I believe ankle bracelets and electronic monitoring are a great way to do this,” he said.
“They allow offenders access to important services to assist them staying out of prison.”
A spokesperson for the Andrews government said it will “watch with interest initiatives in other jurisdictions to use GPS technology to monitor family violence perpetrators, including to monitor compliance with intervention orders.”
Earlier this year Victoria Police revealed it was considering GPS trackers to monitor high risk family violence offenders.
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Assistant Commissioner Dean McWhirter, of the Family Violence Command, told the Herald Sun in March the force was studying a groundbreaking $2.5 million trial involving the electronic monitoring of family violence offenders in Tasmania.
There have been cases of Victoria’s most dangerous parolees going off the grid due to signal drop outs or in coverage black spots.