Police: 24/7 monitoring of trackers

POLICE have hit back at claims GPS tracking devices placed on accused criminals on bail are not constantly monitored.

The Bulletin revealed on Saturday accused criminals were walking around for seven days while they waited for the GPS monitors to be fitted.

The Southport Magistrates Court was told when considering to fit a device to Steven Edward Smith, who is accused of stabbing millionaire Paul Picone, the trackers were not constantly watched.

Criminal lawyer Bill Potts, of Potts Lawyer, said last week he understood it could be days before police realised anything was wrong.

But police have hit back at that assertion.

“The hardware is monitored 24 hours a day with any issues promptly dealt with,” a spokesman said. “Action is also taken against anyone who tampers with or causes damages to the devices.”

The news it took seven days for a tracker to be fixed left Surfers Paradise MP JohnPaul Langbroek furious.

“Again it’s the Gold Coast that misses out,” he said.

“There is not provision for the Gold Coast even when we are the second biggest courthouse in the state.”

Broadwater MP David Crisafulli said the delays showed the State Government was not serious about law and order.