Two on the run after eight ankle monitors cut off in 48 hours

Two men remain on the run after eight offenders in Western Australia cut off their court-ordered electronic ankle bracelets in just 48 hours.

Police have been tasked with trying to track down Jeremy Miller and Russell Dabb, who are both out on bail, as the union raises concerns about the use of the technology.

“These people cutting their bracelets are actively avoiding being captured. They don’t want people to know where they are,” WA Police Union representative Simone Taplin said.

Police tracked down six of the eight offenders who cut off their monitors but Taplin said it unnecessarily stretched the thin blue line.

“These officers have done their job,” she said.

“ … They are then taken away from actually trying to find criminals we’ve been investigating that we found evidence on and that need to be locked up.” 

The electronic monitors, a bail condition that can be imposed by the courts, are mandatory for serious family violence offenders. 

“Changes to the Bail Act make it a starting point rather than a last resort for a lot of offenders in relation to a number of offences particularly domestic violence-related offences,” lawyer Tom Percy said.

The devices are managed by the Department of Justice but WA Police is called in to help when a breach happens. 

The WA Police Union is concerned officers are having to deal with the effects of a system that’s struggling to keep up.

It called for more prison space and rehabilitation programs for offenders. 

“There’s obviously a place for it – you know some people can sit at home and be monitored – but these people have to be lower-end crimes, maybe fraud or smaller assaults or stealing.” Taplin said.

Premier Roger Cook said ankle bracelets were just one of a suite of bail measures a judge could impose.

Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Serviceat1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).