Tracker system cops flak

POLICE Minister Mark Ryan refuses to provide the cost of a DV tracking system operating from the United Kingdom which is being criticised for not providing real time coverage.

The State opposition has been briefed about alternative technology and wants the Queensland government to have a rethink about the current overseas consultancy.

The Gold Coast Bulletin asked Mr Ryan to detail the cost of this monitoring service for the taxpayer, why an overseas provider was given it and how the process of determining this was set up.

Mr Ryan last week referred a series of questions to Queensland Police and it was later confirmed a “private operator in the United Kingdom” was responsible for monitoring DV offenders.

Police declined to provide details of how many people were monitoring perpetrators and if it was a 24-7 operation, citing commercial in confidence. In a statement late yesterday, Mr Ryan said: “I am advised by Queensland Police of the following: The cost of monitoring arrangements are commercial in confidence. The provider was chosen based on capability and meeting the relevant requirements of the QPS following an appropriate selection process.”

The Bulletin has detailed fatal flaws in the technology, including the victim not being monitored if they move out of an alleged offender’s no-go zone and the device being unable to communicate the location of the tracked person if the network fails.

Gold Coast MP Ros Bates said: “There is no point having GPS tracking systems if they aren’t being monitored around the clock.”