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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Luke Batty murder: outdated police IT system may have contributed to death | Luke Batty murder: outdated police IT system may have contributed to death |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| A “modern IT system” might have helped prevent the death of 11-year-old Luke Batty at the hands of his mentally ill father, Victoria’s top police officer says. | A “modern IT system” might have helped prevent the death of 11-year-old Luke Batty at the hands of his mentally ill father, Victoria’s top police officer says. |
| Police commissioner Ken Lay told a media conference on Friday that police had spoken to Greg Anderson, 54, regarding an alleged assault in the Melbourne suburb of Chelsea, on 27 January. | Police commissioner Ken Lay told a media conference on Friday that police had spoken to Greg Anderson, 54, regarding an alleged assault in the Melbourne suburb of Chelsea, on 27 January. |
| But because of “shortcomings” in the Victorian police’s paper-based warrant system, the officers would not have known there were up to five outstanding warrants for Anderson’s arrest at the time, Lay said. | But because of “shortcomings” in the Victorian police’s paper-based warrant system, the officers would not have known there were up to five outstanding warrants for Anderson’s arrest at the time, Lay said. |
| When a warrant is issued, it is the sole responsibility of the issuing officer for two weeks. If the person named in the warrant isn’t apprehended in this time, their warrant is added to a central database. Only then are all existing warrants against a suspect collated and available for all police to see. | |
| “Had Anderson been arrested a day later, those [earlier] warrants would have been visible,” Lay said. | “Had Anderson been arrested a day later, those [earlier] warrants would have been visible,” Lay said. |
| On Wednesday evening, Anderson bashed and stabbed to death his 11-year-old son Luke Batty after cricket practice at an oval in Tyabb, south-east of Melbourne. He was shot dead soon after by police after rushing at them with a knife. | On Wednesday evening, Anderson bashed and stabbed to death his 11-year-old son Luke Batty after cricket practice at an oval in Tyabb, south-east of Melbourne. He was shot dead soon after by police after rushing at them with a knife. |
| Luke’s mother, Rosie Batty, said on Thursday Anderson was allowed to see Luke at the cricket oval under the terms of an apprehended violence order, and the incident was one no one could have anticipated. | Luke’s mother, Rosie Batty, said on Thursday Anderson was allowed to see Luke at the cricket oval under the terms of an apprehended violence order, and the incident was one no one could have anticipated. |
| Lay stressed that the IT problems were just “one piece” of a broader failure by police, and that a full investigation would be carried out. | Lay stressed that the IT problems were just “one piece” of a broader failure by police, and that a full investigation would be carried out. |
| “If we’ve made a mistake, I will be addressing that, and facing up to it,” he said. | “If we’ve made a mistake, I will be addressing that, and facing up to it,” he said. |
| Lay said there were “indications” Anderson had intended to die at the hands of police, but that he would await a coroner’s report on the matter. | Lay said there were “indications” Anderson had intended to die at the hands of police, but that he would await a coroner’s report on the matter. |
| He said the horrific crime was a wake-up call to society at large to redouble its efforts against the “insidious” crimes of family violence and violence against women. | He said the horrific crime was a wake-up call to society at large to redouble its efforts against the “insidious” crimes of family violence and violence against women. |
| “We know there are hundreds of young Lukes out there at risk. We know there are hundreds of Rosies out there at risk,” he said. | “We know there are hundreds of young Lukes out there at risk. We know there are hundreds of Rosies out there at risk,” he said. |
| “Rosie was tormented by the hands of the person who loved her. She’s not alone. She’s one of thousands of women who live in similar circumstances in our state at the moment,” he said. | “Rosie was tormented by the hands of the person who loved her. She’s not alone. She’s one of thousands of women who live in similar circumstances in our state at the moment,” he said. |
| On Friday morning Tony Abbott expressed his grief at the boy’s killing. | On Friday morning Tony Abbott expressed his grief at the boy’s killing. |
| “That was an unspeakable tragedy, an absolute unspeakable tragedy and just horrific beyond words,” the prime minister told Fairfax Radio. | “That was an unspeakable tragedy, an absolute unspeakable tragedy and just horrific beyond words,” the prime minister told Fairfax Radio. |
| He questioned whether the tragedy required a change in government policy, saying the government already had a national plan to deal with domestic violence. | He questioned whether the tragedy required a change in government policy, saying the government already had a national plan to deal with domestic violence. |
| “I am sure that everyone in this field will be galvanised to be even more vigilant as a result of this, but I’m not sure every tragedy requires a change of policy or every tragedy requires a new program,” he said. | “I am sure that everyone in this field will be galvanised to be even more vigilant as a result of this, but I’m not sure every tragedy requires a change of policy or every tragedy requires a new program,” he said. |
| “What we need to ensure is that everyone does his or her job as well as we humanly can. | “What we need to ensure is that everyone does his or her job as well as we humanly can. |
| “The awful tragedy of life is that sometimes terrible things happen.” | “The awful tragedy of life is that sometimes terrible things happen.” |