❓ Opposition questions the Barnett government's handling of bail for 'Evil 8' members, particularly regarding proximity to schools. Minister responds, outlining police actions and promising to provide further information on Volmer's case.
AnsweredQoN 529Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
EVIL 8 — DAVID VOLMER
529. Mr P. PAPALIA to the Minister for Police:
I refer to today's
revelation in the national media that yet another Evil 8 gang member, David
Volmer, was also bailed and allowed to live across the road from a school.
(1) Did the Barnett government
oppose bail for any members of the Evil 8 gang?
(2) Did the
Barnett government bother to even check whether any of their bail residences
were near schools?
(3) How many other members of the
Evil 8 paedophile ring were allowed out on bail?
529. Mr P. PAPALIA to the Minister for Police:
I refer to today's
revelation in the national media that yet another Evil 8 gang member, David
Volmer, was also bailed and allowed to live across the road from a school.
(1) Did the Barnett government
oppose bail for any members of the Evil 8 gang?
(2) Did the
Barnett government bother to even check whether any of their bail residences
were near schools?
(3) How many other members of the
Evil 8 paedophile ring were allowed out on bail?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3) I
thank the member for the question. Police opposed bail for every one of the
Evil 8 people who were charged with those offences against that young woman.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Right; thank you. Carry on.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : Police opposed bail. The opportunity that the police had to
oppose bail was taken advantage of. The magistrate —
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Members!
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : As I explained yesterday, defence counsel for these offenders—alleged
offenders—opposed bail and the judge made a decision in each of those
cases. To my knowledge, all but one of them was released on bail into the
community with conditions around their management. The person I am aware of who
was near a school is the offender we were talking about—I have
forgotten his name—Clegg. As soon as police became aware of the fact
that that offender had been bailed to a residence that was contrary to the bail
conditions that also required him not to be within 100 metres of a school or a childcare
facility and not to have unsupervised access to a child under the age of 16 years
et cetera, they took steps to have the bail conditions reviewed. We all know
that Mr Clegg is now back in custody. Another two of those offenders are
currently on bail in the community at two separate addresses. Because of the
sensitivity of this issue, the sex offender management squad now manages those
two people. I believe that one is awaiting a plea hearing and the other is
awaiting sentencing. Their bail conditions have been set. They have both been
complying with those bail conditions. Police have been checking on them and
they are now being managed by the sex offender management squad, which has
expertise in dealing with these sorts of offenders. I do not believe that the
community is at risk. Police are doing their utmost to ensure that those two
individuals are complying with their bail conditions.
With respect to Volmer, I will have
to go back to check the records. I do not have the information to hand about
whether he was bailed into the community or what those circumstances are. When
I get that information, I will be happy to provide it to the member.
thank the member for the question. Police opposed bail for every one of the
Evil 8 people who were charged with those offences against that young woman.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Right; thank you. Carry on.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : Police opposed bail. The opportunity that the police had to
oppose bail was taken advantage of. The magistrate —
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Members!
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : As I explained yesterday, defence counsel for these offenders—alleged
offenders—opposed bail and the judge made a decision in each of those
cases. To my knowledge, all but one of them was released on bail into the
community with conditions around their management. The person I am aware of who
was near a school is the offender we were talking about—I have
forgotten his name—Clegg. As soon as police became aware of the fact
that that offender had been bailed to a residence that was contrary to the bail
conditions that also required him not to be within 100 metres of a school or a childcare
facility and not to have unsupervised access to a child under the age of 16 years
et cetera, they took steps to have the bail conditions reviewed. We all know
that Mr Clegg is now back in custody. Another two of those offenders are
currently on bail in the community at two separate addresses. Because of the
sensitivity of this issue, the sex offender management squad now manages those
two people. I believe that one is awaiting a plea hearing and the other is
awaiting sentencing. Their bail conditions have been set. They have both been
complying with those bail conditions. Police have been checking on them and
they are now being managed by the sex offender management squad, which has
expertise in dealing with these sorts of offenders. I do not believe that the
community is at risk. Police are doing their utmost to ensure that those two
individuals are complying with their bail conditions.
With respect to Volmer, I will have
to go back to check the records. I do not have the information to hand about
whether he was bailed into the community or what those circumstances are. When
I get that information, I will be happy to provide it to the member.
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