The ACT Victims of Crime Commissioner has asked police and corrective services for an urgent explanation as to why a registered high-risk family violence victim was told to apply for a protection order against a man already on parole for stalking her.
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Commissioner John Hinchey said if the claims were substantiated, they represented a serious breakdown in the system designed to protect victims of violence in the ACT.
According to the woman, the man, who was recently released on parole from the Alexander Maconochie Centre where he had been sent for victimising her, spotted her at an open air shopping area and started following her.
When she called police for help she said she was told they had no record of the parole orders against the man, and that she should apply for an interim protection order if she felt unsafe. An officer later called her back to say all they could find was an outdated restraining order.
A spokesman said ACT Policing did receive written notification of the parole order and action was taken to ensure appropriate safety measures were put in place, but declined to comment on why the woman was told to seek a further court order.
"On the information I've been given there appears to have been a significant failure within the system to clearly and effectively respond to reports by a registered domestic violence victim that an offender is possibly in breach of his parole conditions," Mr Hinchey said.
"A person who was a registered, high-risk victim approached the right people to act as they are mandated to act, and the responsibility was put back onto her. That's not acceptable."
ACT Justice Minister Shane Rattenbury said that as soon as he became aware of the situation he had raised concerns with ACT Corrective Services who advised that the matter had already been rectified by ACT Policing.
"I understand that [Corrective Services] has liaised closely with ACT Policing following this event to ensure appropriate safety measures are in place and information is available," Mr Rattenbury said.
"The ACT government will continue to monitor this matter very closely. I can assure the Canberra community that victim safety is a high priority for this government, and there has been, and continues to be, a commitment to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of victims of crime in our community."
The woman said that before the man's release she had been assured there would be an alert placed on her home, her person, and her child's school. But when she checked with the school they were unaware of the parole conditions and so she had taken a copy of the court order and photo of the man in herself, as she was fearful for her child's safety.
According to Mr Hinchey the man would probably be regarded as a high risk of reoffending.
"There seems to be this big black hole between Corrections and police, and the problem is you've got all these vulnerable women around trying to get some help," the woman said.
The police spokesman said ACT Policing was taking the matter very seriously and had made preventing family and domestic violence a high priority.
Mr Rattenbury said the matter had also been referred to the co-ordinator general for Domestic and Family Violence. The ACT government was committed to exploring ways of improving family violence laws and processes to improve safety for women and children, he said.
If you or someone you know is affected by sexual assault or family violence, call the ACT Domestic Violence 24 Hour Crisis Line on 02 6280 0900. In an emergency, call 000.
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