The collapse of a private firm that provided police with ankle monitors has left accused criminals including drug traffickers, gangsters, gunmen and arsonists unaccounted for.
Police, justice authorities and courts across NSW and Victoria are now desperately trying to find alleged offenders on bail after BailSafe Australia shut its doors more than a week ago without notifying authorities.
The website for the independent GPS monitoring service provider for offenders on bail no longer exists, and the Department of Justice was never told about its collapse.
The company monitored alleged offenders in real-time as an alternative to them being remanded in custody while awaiting trial.
Up to 20 defendants across NSW have not been tracked for months despite wearing BailSafe ankle monitors, the Daily Telegraph reported.
The NSW government has called for an urgent review into the use of ankle monitors provided and monitored by private companies.
‘More than 20 defendants on bail were found to be wearing BailSafe ankle monitors. These cases have all been referred to police for them to take any necessary action,’ a NSW government spokesman told 2GB radio.
‘In the vast majority of cases where people are wearing ankle monitors in the community, the ankle monitors are overseen and closely managed by Community Corrections staff.
Some accused criminals wearing ankle monitors have been roaming without being tracked
‘This is the case when the ankle monitor is imposed, for example, for serious domestic violence offences. There are a small number of people in the community who have been given bail with a condition that they fund their own ankle monitor.’
BailSafe Australia said it was ‘dedicated to offering high-level support to those on bail’ in a post on its Facebook page in February, 2024.
‘We understand the hurdles faced and provide a structured, nurturing framework aimed at comprehensive resolution of these challenges,’ it said.
One user questioned if the company was still up-and-running seven weeks ago.
‘Have you shut down? So many of us are waiting for a response,’ they asked.
Another said they had been trying to get in touch but received no response.
It remains unclear how many alleged offenders who used a BailSafe ankle monitor are currently in Victoria.
To make matters worse, state authorities were unaware the business had collapsed until they were notified by reporters at The Age.
It remains unclear how many alleged offenders who used a BailSafe ankle monitor are currently in Victoria (pictured, police officers in Melbourne)
A spokesperson for the Victorian government told the outlet it was ‘unacceptable that this private operator has failed to notify state authorities about these developments’ and added ‘relevant authorities’ and Office of Public Prosecutions had been informed.
Along with their website, BailSafe’s Linkedin page has been shut down.
Attorney-General Michael Daley has called for a review into the regulation of the private providers and asked if any improvements could be made.
The Law Society of NSW informed its members that BailSafe ‘may have ceased operations without notice to the court, nor the accused persons currently being monitored by its devices’.
‘(The Department of Communities and Justice) has asked the Law Society to convey this information to members who may be involved in making submissions in bail proceedings or working on operational bail matters,’ the post to social media read.
