WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch talks down severity of gaps in domestic violence offender GPS monitoringCBy Cason HoTopic:Domestic Violence1h ago1 hours agoFri 2 May 2025 at 3:03amPolice Commissioner Col Blanch has tried to shift the focus of GPS monitoring issues to the courts. (ABC News: Jake Sturmer)In short:WA's police commissioner has played down the severity of gaps in the electronic monitoring of the most serious domestic violence offenders.The state government legislated mandatory GPS tracking of some serious, repeat perpetrators, but there have been issues with the technology.What's next?Col Blanch says it is ultimately up to the courts if they want to grant bail when GPS tracking is not feasible.abc.net.au/news/col-blanch-police-domestic-violence-offender-gps-issues/105243728Link copiedShareShare articleWA's police commissioner has deflected blame for gaps in the monitoring of the most serious domestic violence offenders, saying he would put them "all behind bars" if it were up to him.WA Labor's flagship family and domestic violence laws mandated electronic bracelets for some serious, repeat perpetrators – but issues relating to the GPS tracking devices meant at least three offenders have been released on bail without them.The laws were designed to add an extra layer of security for victims, with the former attorney-general at the time saying the GPS monitoring would only be lifted in "exceptional circumstances" against a "very high threshold".But last month it was revealed in a Bunbury court it was "not feasible" for authorities to use GPS tracking outside of Perth's metropolitan area.The state government pinned the blame on mobile phone black spots and "technical limitations" while saying the courts and Department of Justice (DOJ) needed time to acclimatise to the new rules.Commissioner faces questionsQuestioned about the tracking issues on Friday, WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch shifted the focus to the courts.Col Blanch speaks to ABC Radio Perth about the GPS tracking of serious and repeat FDV offenders. (ABC News: Jake Sturmer)"The entire conversation has been missed. If someone is carrying too much risk to be in a community, police have vigorously opposed bail at court," he told ABC Radio Perth."The conversation needs to go back to … 'why is the court bailing high-risk people?'"I don't support high-risk people in our community … sex offenders or family violence offenders, they should be behind bars when there is a risk posed."If an electronic monitor is taken off someone and they pose an immediate risk, they're probably too high risk for us, but that is a decision for the courts, not police."Family and domestic violence support services:The Survivor Hub Full Stop Australia: 1800 385 5781800 Respect National Helpline: 1800 737 732DV Connect Women's Line: 1800 811 81113 YARN 13 92 76MensLine: 1300 789 978Lifeline (24-hour Crisis Line): 13 11 14The commissioner's stance mirrors comments made by WA Premier Roger Cook in the wake of the revelations about issues with GPS tracking outside of Perth."Quite frankly, if the courts cannot make an arrangement whereby an accused serial domestic violence offender cannot be properly monitored, they need to be put behind bars," he said on April 15.'Just technical stuff'Documents seen by the ABC have revealed authorities were given a number of warnings the system would not work outside of Perth's metropolitan area.How WA's flagship DV promise went so wrongPhoto shows Man in suit behind podium and microphone talking.A letter has revealed just how the implementation of WA's domestic violence strategy targeting repeat offenders went so badly wrong.It includes a letter from Corrective Services Commissioner Brad Royce to the police commissioner stating the DOJ "will not recommend or support" GPS tracking outside of Perth.Commissioner Blanch said the issue boiled down to "administrative issues with the technology"."We need to fix the machine, there's something wrong, it's not charging properly, needs a better battery, whatever. Just technical stuff," he said."Because of the increase in volume [of FDV offenders being required to wear the bracelets] and because of the increase in technical faults, albeit small, they've said 'we're struggling to get people into regional areas at times to fix these small technical faults'.""If there's a deliberate breach by the offender, police are rolling 24/7, we are out —we're capturing these people who breach."But if there's something wrong from an IT perspective or administrative function that needs fixing, sometimes staff are not available after hours from Department of Corrections to do that, and Corrections saw that as a risk."Premier admits 'limitations'Asked about the letter on Friday, the premier said any historical communications did not reflect the current situation."What they do say is that we need to work together better to make sure that we can manage any technical limitations," Roger Cook said.Premier Roger Cook says limitations with the technology will not stop the government investing in it. (ABC News: Andrew O'Connor )"Obviously in any remote and regional community when you're relying on a mobile technology, there are limitations."That doesn't mean you shouldn't invest in this new technology to ensure that, where it can work and where it can work best, you [do] deploy it."Corrective Services Minister Paul Papalia said on Thursday there had been updated advice from the corrective services commissioner to the courts asking for "additional conditions" to be considered outside of GPS tracking.In the letter, which the minister provided to the ABC, Commissioner Royce stated electronic monitoring was only suitable for accused offenders who were eligible for bail in any case.LoadingPosted 1h ago1 hours agoFri 2 May 2025 at 3:03am, updated 45m ago45 minutes agoFri 2 May 2025 at 3:41amShare optionsCopy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)Family and domestic violence support:1800 Respect national helpline: 1800 737 732Women's Crisis Line: 1800 811 811Men's Referral Service: 1300 766 491Lifeline (24 hour crisis line): 131 114Relationships Australia: 1300 364 277NSW Domestic Violence Line:1800 656 463Qld DV Connect Womensline:1800 811 811Vic Safe Steps crisis response line:1800 015 188ACT 24/7 Crisis Line:(02) 6280 0900Tas Family Violence Counselling and Support Service:1800 608 122SA Domestic Violence Crisis Line:1800 800 098WA Women's Domestic Violence 24h Helpline:1800 007 339NT Domestic violence helpline:1800 737 732Top StoriesLittle-known entity comparing Dutton to Trump spends more than $400,000 on political Meta adsTopic:Australian Federal ElectionsPhoto shows A man in front of a billboard which says "the parties are the problem"Home owners far outnumber first-time buyers, so pollies ‘do the math’Topic:Property PricesPhoto shows A man outside his Qld home standing next to the fence at the front of the house'Stranded': Motorists describe chaos caused by scrap metal truck debrisTopic:Road Accidents and IncidentsPhoto shows A metal shard embedded in a tyreWhere the election will be won and lost — or left hangingTopic:Australian Federal ElectionsPhoto shows A stylised map shows Australia's 150 federal electorates as clusters of hexagons.Why Melbourne’s inner north has Labor worriedTopic:Federal GovernmentRelated storiesThe cracks emerged early. Now WA's DV promise has come crashing downKAnalysis by Keane BourkePhoto shows Man in suit behind podium and microphone talking.Minister accused of misleading public over tracking WA domestic violence offendersTopic:State and Territory GovernmentPhoto shows Zempilas and PapaliaPledge to monitor DV offenders comes crashing down under weight of realityKAnalysis by Keane BourkePhoto shows Roger Cook looks down during a press conference.Related topicsDomestic ViolenceLawsPerthPoliceState and Territory GovernmentTop StoriesLittle-known entity comparing Dutton to Trump spends more than $400,000 on political Meta adsTopic:Australian Federal ElectionsPhoto shows A man in front of a billboard which says "the parties are the problem"Home owners far outnumber first-time buyers, so pollies ‘do the math’Topic:Property Prices'Stranded': Motorists describe chaos caused by scrap metal truck debrisTopic:Road Accidents and IncidentsWhere the election will be won and lost — or left hangingTopic:Australian Federal ElectionsWhy Melbourne’s inner north has Labor worriedTopic:Federal GovernmentJust InCandidate labels voters in his electorate 'dumbest on this planet' Topic:Australian Federal Elections4m ago4 minutes agoFri 2 May 2025 at 4:22amComedian Alan Davies says he never remembers the facts from QITopic:Stand-Up Comedy12m ago12 minutes agoFri 2 May 2025 at 4:14amDoes more gas supply mean cheaper power bills for Australians? 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