Eight offenders ditch ankle monitors, prompting a large-scale WA police hunt
Eight individuals accused of serious offences removed their GPS ankle bracelets within two days, leading Western Australian police to launch a major search operation.
In the past 48 hours, eight people charged with serious crimes in Western Australia removed their GPS ankle bracelets, triggering a sizeable police response. By Sunday afternoon, six of the suspects had been apprehended, leaving 40-year-old Jeremy James Miller and 18-year-old Russell Ysandre Damion Dabb still on the run. The police union reports that each search mobilised six officers, pulling a total of 48 officers away from regular duties such as family violence and other serious crime investigations.
Union representative Simone Taplin described the frequent device tampering as a daily issue caused by the Department of Justice's handling of offender supervision. The state government and opposition have debated the role of prison overcrowding and recent reforms that make electronic monitoring mandatory for certain bail conditions. Officials warn that any breach can result in up to three years imprisonment and fines of up to $36,000.
Why it matters
The breaches strain police resources and raise concerns about public safety and the effectiveness of electronic monitoring.
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