Tracking Plan For Worst Crims
THE worst murderers and pedophiles in New South Wales will be
tracked for the rest of their lives under tough new laws to be
introduced to Parliament.
The Corrective Services Commissioner will be given the power to
impose satellite tracking on criminals such as paroled child killer
John Lewthwaite.
Minister for Corrective Services Tony Kelly will introduce the
legislation this week after Lewthwaite was arrested for allegedly
sunbaking naked near children earlier this year.
"These new laws will ensure that lifetime parole means just
that," Mr Kelly told The Sunday Telegraph.
Under the laws, criminals could be obliged to report to a
parole officer, reside at an approved address and could be
subject to drug and alcohol testing and psychological counselling.
NSW's life parolees are currently supervised for only three
years, at which point the Department of Corrective Services
must apply for an extension.
The new laws will require them to permanently report to
authorities or wear a tracking device on a wrist or ankle.
The State Parole Authority will also be given powers to
order paroled pedophiles to wear the electronic bracelets.
A central, computerised compliance unit has been set up in
western Sydney to operate the Star tracking system which has
been trialled for the past year.
Victims support groups have hailed the tough new public
protection measures.
"It's a real win for victims," Homicide Victims Support Group
executive director Martha Jabour said.
"If they get life with parole, that's what the judge intended:
that they would be supervised for the term of their natural life."
Ms Jabour also encouraged the State Parole Authority to place
greater constraints on pedophiles.
Lewthwaite, who served 25 years for the murder of five-year-old
Nicole Hanns, is one of four criminals who are currently on life
parole in NSW. Another 20 offenders with similar conditions
attached to their sentences are yet to be released from jail.
Monitoring orders for Lewthwaite were not renewed in 2002 after
he had met parole conditions for three years.
Lewthwaite, facing charges of wilful and obscene exposure, is
back in custody after his initial bail was revoked.
Last week, serial child sex offender Gordon Tracey Bailey was
caught swimming with children in a public pool in breach of
police orders.
Herald and Weekly Times (15-10-2006)
|
|