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A TRIAL plan will see sex offenders and pedophiles tracked by satellites under a controversial proposal being considered by the Western Australian State Government. In what is believed to be an Australian first, the plan ? to be trialled before the end of the year ? will mean criminals considered dangerous when released will be fitted permanently with a bracelet. The tags will have an electrical device allowing authorities to trace their movements using global-positioning system technology. The system could also be used to track the movements of people convicted of domestic violence who tried to approach their victims. Justice Minister John D'Orazio said the system, presently under trial in England, could track the position of criminals to within a few metres. He said authorities using a central computer would know if parole conditions had been breached. For example, sex offenders who had been ordered to stay away from a school or playground would be found out and jailed. Mr D'Orazio said that in some cases the more dangerous criminals released from jail might have to wear the bracelets at all times. "Anything we can do to make sure the community is safe and our children are safe from these monsters is something we as a government should do," Mr D'Orazio said. "The Parole Board puts restrictions on these people, but the problem is that they only find out (about further crimes) after they have done something to someone else. "Through this system, we can monitor their movements and know where they are instantly and know if they have breached the requirements of the Parole Board." The tracking of child-sex offenders and others who commit serious offences has been debated for years, with some arguing that the public has a right to know the movements of dangerous criminals. But the idea of tracking criminals through satellite technology received a cold response from civil libertarians. Liberty and Justice WA spokesman Laurie Levy said the practice set a dangerous precedent. "It is a breach of civil rights," Mr Levy said. "It sounds like a good idea in principle, but it is the application that concerns me. "Who will have the information and who will monitor it?" AAP (28-8-2005) |
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