Bushfire Arsonists to be Tracked with GPS
WEST Australian authorities will have the power to fit GPS tracking devices on more dangerous criminals, including bushfire arsonists, under new legal guidelines proposed by the state government.
With serious sex offenders set to be tracked with GPS units from March, Attorney-General Michael Mischin and Corrective Services Minister Murray Cowper have revealed plans to introduce a new "serious violent offender" category.
This will allow the courts to order other offenders to be monitored electronically, with domestic violent offenders to fall into the serious offender category, which would be an Australian first.
Mr Mischin said cabinet had approved new laws to enable courts to order serious offenders to be fitted with GPS
"I have commenced drafting new laws to allow courts, in appropriate cases, to order repeat domestic violence offenders be fitted with a GPS device," he said.
"In addition, Western Australia has the highest incidence of suspicious and deliberately lit bushfires in the nation, with arson estimated to account for at least 50 per cent of all bushfires state-wide.
"By allowing courts to order GPS devices to be fitted to serial arsonists, authorities can detect when these offenders approach exclusions zones, such as high-risk bushfire areas or the location of their previous offences."
The state's Prisoners Review Board, which decides on parole, would also be granted the power to order someone being released from jail to be monitored electronically.
The monitoring device for serious offenders or parolees would be fitted on an offender's wrist or ankle, allowing them to be tracked 24 hours a day.
"If they breach their conditions or try to tamper with the device, an alarm will be activated and the offender will risk being sent back to jail," Mr Cowper said.
AAP