How safe is electronic monitoring of offenders in the community? Tonight we have a warning – a pair of cheap scissors is all it takes to taste freedom.
Blessie Gotingco's killer had an electronic bracelet on, yet he planned her rape and murder while authorities could see his movements. It took seven hours to realise child sex offender Daniel Livingstone had cut his bracelet off.
We've gone to the frontline, to a man who works for the private company tasked with monitoring the offenders when it all goes wrong.
John is a security guard for private company First Security, which monitors hundreds of criminals in the community who wear ankle bracelets. He is also blowing the whistle on his own industry.
"We've got these people that shouldn't be out on the streets," he says.
He says the electronic monitoring on our most dangerous criminals is too easy to remove.
"A $2 pair of scissors will get them off no worries – just cut them off, no drama."
John is one of hundreds of guards on the minimum wage of $14.75 an hour tasked with being the first response when it happens.
"These people are master manipulators, and if there's an opening they'll take it."
Now he's worried minimum wage security staff could be open to bribes. He's warning the Government things will continue to go wrong.
"They outsource to private companies who fly by night. [The company cares] about the bottom dollar. We've been opened up to failure opened up to failure by companies chasing the almighty dollar."
Watch the video for the full Story report and interview with Corrections' national commissioner, Jeremy Lightfoot.
