The sudden collapse of BailSafe Australia, a private company providing ankle monitors for alleged offenders on bail, has left police and justice authorities in New South Wales and Victoria scrambling to locate defendants, including drug traffickers, gangsters, and arsonists. The firm shut down over a week ago without notifying authorities, and its website and LinkedIn page have been taken down.
Up to 20 defendants in NSW have been wearing BailSafe ankle monitors that have not been transmitting data for months, according to reports. The NSW government has called for an urgent review into the use of privately provided ankle monitors, with a spokesman stating that all cases have been referred to police for action.
In Victoria, authorities were unaware of the collapse until informed by journalists. A Victorian government spokesperson called the failure to notify state authorities 'unacceptable' and confirmed that relevant agencies, including the Office of Public Prosecutions, have been alerted.
BailSafe Australia had marketed itself as offering 'high-level support' to those on bail, but users had questioned its status weeks before the collapse. The Law Society of NSW informed members that the company may have ceased operations without notice to courts or accused persons.
Attorney-General Michael Daley has ordered a review into the regulation of private ankle-monitoring providers. The situation has raised concerns about the reliability of such services as an alternative to remand.
