Eight Accused Criminals Cut Ankle Bracelets, Sparking WA Manhunt

Eight people accused of serious crimes have cut off their ankle bracelets in the past 48 hours, sparking a massive manhunt, WA police have said.

As of 3:30pm on Sunday, the ABC understands six alleged offenders have been caught, leaving two men on the run.

Those people are allegedly serious criminals and are "dangerous to the community", according to Simone Taplin, a representative from WA Police Union.

Sergeant Taplin said six police officers were required to hunt each person, meaning 48 officers were diverted from their usual duties this weekend.

"That's a large amount of resources to look for someone who should be behind bars," she said.

"Our officers are being called on urgently to go and capture them when they cut their bracelets.

"That stops [police] from attending family and domestic violence, it stops them from attending serious crimes that are occurring."

Still on the run, 40-year-old Jeremy James Miller has pleaded guilty to twice breaching his post-sentence supervision order.

He was deemed by the courts fit to be fitted with a device that police said he cut off in Midland, before disappearing.

Russell Ysandre Damion Dabb, 18, who faces 25 charges, including allegedly breaching bail twice, is the second man on the run.

Police said he took off his device in Mirrabooka at the weekend.

Surge in electronic monitoring

The Department of Justice uses electronic monitoring bracelets, fitted with GPS technology, to track people released on bail or on supervision orders, after they have served a prison sentence.

It is an option available to magistrates and judges when considering if someone should remain behind bars, or if they can be safely released into the community.

But the WA Police Union said it was pushing the management of would-be prisoners onto police, adding there had been a "massive increase in the electronic monitoring of offenders".

Sergeant Taplin said people cutting off their monitors has become an "everyday" occurrence.

"[The Department of] Justice aren't managing their criminals effectively, so the police are being asked to do another job for another government department," Sergeant Taplin said.

In a statement, WA Police said "each breach requires an immediate operational response and places additional pressure on police resources, with officers redirected from other policing activities".

"The cumulative impact of multiple breaches in a short period can be significant, requiring considerable time and resources to investigate and resolve."

The Department of Justice has argued that it did not decide on whether an offender was released into the community or the conditions imposed on an offender, including electronic monitoring.

"Under reforms introduced in 2024, electronic monitoring is mandatory in certain circumstances for family and domestic violence offenders where a court has determined the offender can be safely managed in the community.

"The removal or tampering of an electronic monitoring device is an offence and a breach of supervision conditions.

"When an alleged breach and/or offence is suspected, the Department refers the matter to WA Police for investigation and response to ensure community safety is protected."

Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas has blamed the overcrowding in WA jails, saying "these people should be in prison".

"If it was not for the mismanagement of our prison system by this Labor government, those people would not be out of jail with ankle bracelets on that they can cut off, and cause a danger to our community," he told reporters on Sunday.

A report by the state's Inspector of Custodial Services recently found WA prisoners were being subjected to "cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment" because the government has allowed the state's prison system to become "almost functionally broken".

A core reason outlined was a 37 per cent increase in the prison population since early 2023.

Premier Roger Cook reiterated his government's "priority [is] to keep the community safe".

"If someone breaks their parole, breaks their bail, if they break any of the conditions, including the ankle bracelets, they will pay the price," he said.

Those in breach can be arrested by police and face jail terms of up to three years and a fine of up to $36,000.