DV offenders should be ‘put behind bars’ if electronic monitoring isn’t possible premier Roger Cook said

Premier Roger Cook said domestic violence offenders should be “put behind bars” in regional areas where electronic monitoring devices cannot be used. Tough laws from the Cook Labor Government came into effect late last year which forced repeat and high-risk DV offenders to wear GPS ankle bracelets, but it has since emerged authorities outside of the Perth metro areas don’t have the resources to implement the laws. The revelation came from a Department of Justice adult corrections officer in Bunbury Magistrates Court on Monday when he told the court “it’s not feasibly possible” to use electronic monitoring devices in Bunbury and surrounding areas. The statement came after 25-year-old Raymond Donald Nebro was accused of breaking into the home of his former partner and assaulting her in Collie on April 13. Mr Nebro was charged with aggravated home burglary, breaching a family violence restraining order and common assault, but denied the allegations and asked for bail. Magistrate Tanya Watt approved a bail application and said she was “satisfied” there were “exceptional circumstances” in the case. Mr Cook said the attorney-general at the time, John Quigley, commented on courts holding the responsibility to make the final decision on bail applications. “The courts are empowered to make decisions according to the capacity of the electronic monitoring equipment,” Mr Cook said. “The courts are empowered to make decisions that prioritises the protection of the domestic violence victim ahead of ankle bracelet of electronic monitoring devices equipment capacity. “Quite frankly, if the courts cannot make an arrangement whereby the accused serial domestic violence offender cannot be properly monitored, they need to be put behind bars.” A job advertisement seeking multiple electronic monitoring officers was recently posted by the Department of Justice, which Mr Cook declined was due to inadequate staff. “It indicates we are continuing to resource the area of corrections,” he said. “We continue to make sure we advertise and recruit where we can to make sure we have a full staff.” Mr Cook said the lack of resources in the region for electronic monitoring was an issue that has “risen lately” and was due to concerns over technology in the regions. “The technology associated with electronic monitoring devices was too reliant upon mobile networks,” he said. “This provided extra complication in terms of supervising people between court appearances. “Where that technology is not as advanced as it could be, we simply have to work to the old measures.” Shadow minister for police and corrective Services Adam Hort said the lack of GPS tracking-device capacity in the regions was a “failure of Labor’s promise to protect victims of family and domestic violence”. “Right now, if you’re a woman in Bunbury, Kununurra, Carnarvon or Kalgoorlie, there’s a real possibility that you don’t get the same protection as someone in Perth,” he said. “Last year this Government was quick to announce GPS laws were in force, but it’s clear they were more interested in the headline than the hard work of delivering it. “While family and domestic violence continues to climb at crisis levels in regional Western Australia – over 132 per cent higher than when WA Labor took office – it’s disgraceful to think the Cook Labor Government hasn’t taken the necessary steps to ensure WA Police and Corrections have the capacity to actually enforce the law.” Mr Hort said the inability to have GPS tracking in the regions was a “failure of leadership”. “WA Labor promised protection but gave WA Police an empty toolbox. How are officers meant to enforce laws without the gear to do the job?” He said. “You can’t claim to protect the victims of family and domestic violence if you leave half the State behind.”