The G-Tag – A New paradigm in community safety

by CAA | Feb 9, 2016 | Library, Uncategorized

9th February 2016

 – The G-Tag Vehicle Global Positioning System, will

Save lives

Reduce crime

Cost positive and

Make Victoria a leader as an innovative State.

Introduction

For most people, their car is their most important and valued asset and to have it stolen is devastating. But motor cars, whether stolen or not, are also commonly associated with crimes including hit-and-run, robbery, drugs, rape, murder, domestic violence and now terrorism.

The relatively new experience of motor vehicles being used as a weapon either against Police or as a weapon of mass destruction, terror-related or not, is a new phenomenon. The introduction of this new level of violence In the West has brought a new urgency to the G-Tag.

The G-Tag, when fully implemented, is the only stratagem that can stop vehicles from being used as weapons.

The Bourke Street massacre should be justification alone to introduce the G-Tag. Unless you live under a rock, we know that it will only be a matter of time before we experience the devastation of truck or car bombs, as is all too common elsewhere in the world. The possibility of IS fighters and or their children returning to Australia from these areas will no doubt bring with it skills used in that place.

The multiple killings, countless injuries, millions of dollars of theft, and massive damage bills caused because current legislation is focused exclusively on the driver, not the vehicle and until that changes, the vehicles and their drivers will continue to wreak havoc.

The most creative solution dreamed up thus far by the Government and police in Melbourne is strategically placed bollards and reinforced concrete planters. A little underwhelming. They will create safe areas (behind their protection and then only from cars), but the vulnerability of people will then be focused on the areas that can not be protected, including every intersection in Melbourne at peak pedestrian times, when pedestrians in large numbers cross, are exposed.

There were 4,567,314 vehicles (ABS Data, which includes all vehicles) registered in Victoria in 2015 – a huge and valuable state asset that needs to be protected.

The traditional view that the risks posed by the motor car should be managed by legislation that focuses on the driver, clearly, has had only limited success.

– To further reduce the risks, we need to focus on the vehicle.

The best way to reduce any crime is to increase in the perpetrator’s mind the likelihood that they will get caught – penalties in themselves have limited impact because the perpetrator does not commit the act to get caught and never expects to get caught.

When the probability of being caught fails to dissuade, we need the ability to intervene to minimise the impact of the behaviour.

Authorities (Police) should be able to safely slow down or stop particular vehicles in the interests of public safety and/or law enforcement

Without diminishing the current Law and Order response, there is a need to think through and discuss alternatives – one of those alternatives is the vehicle.

GPS Tracking

GPS tracking is widely used in the community; the devices record and re-transmit their own location to a satellite-based global positioning system.  These re-transmitted signals allow the identification of the vehicle, the vehicle’s location and the route it has and is taking. It also communicates the vehicle speed.

That route can be recorded for days or weeks, therefore capable of identifying which vehicle was driven in a particular location at a previous time. This ability will allow the Police to identify the vehicle used in a crime, and as important as the current location of the vehicle is the historical routes the vehicle has taken, which perhaps have more investigative value.

An example, and there are many, would be a drive-by shooting in the early hours. Witnesses can usually supply a time of the shots, with a G-Tag, the police could identify which vehicles were driven in that location at the time given.

Central to this proposal will be the fitting of tracking devices to every vehicle, and although this forms part of the first stage of this proposal, it needs to be seen through the prism of advantages to the community, a safety and Crime Prevention/Minimisation strategy, albeit that an economic case may be produced for the system raising alternative revenue streams for the Government.

Setting the case for part one of this proposal – the G-Tag

The advantages of developing a GPS locating system, or G-Tag, for the entire Victorian road fleet will be no small feat; however, the return will be enormous.

1. Theft of Motor vehicles and machinery –

With a G-Tag, stolen vehicles can be located quickly; the focus is on the property, not the perpetrator. However, that will lead to perpetrators being detected rapidly. This will lead to a reduction in insurance costs. G-Tags . This would also reduce the demand on Police time and assist in arresting perpetrators.

G-Tags will influence the perpetrators, who are aware that the chances of getting caught have increased, and may deter many would-be perpetrators.

In Australia, 49 vehicles a week are stolen and processed for scrap metal – one in four cars stolen are never recovered – $103 million estimated value of cars never recovered.  There are estimated to be 5 million cars on Australian roads that do not have immobilising technology. (Source -National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council.).

In Victoria, 14366 vehicle thefts were reported according to VicPol statistics in 2014. In 2015, that number increased to 17090, an increase of 19%. The National average of vehicles not recovered is 31% (This figure could be substantially higher when including vehicles recovered damaged beyond repair – burnt out, etc.), so extrapolating those figures to Victoria, in excess of 5000 vehicles disappear every year, or nearly 100 every week.

What the statistics do not show is the hardship caused and the danger posed to the community

Community safety – a G-Tag will assist

1. Victims of Domestic violence-. They can be better protected by tagging the perpetrator’s vehicles in the G-Tag system to warn Police of the perpetrator heading toward the victim. The use of postcodes to quarantine victims will enable the Police to intervene when postcode boundaries are crossed by perpetrators breaching a Family Violence Order. Alerting the Police to reduce the risk to the victim.
2. Missing Persons-. G-Tags can locate vehicles of missing persons before self-harm. Suicidal victims are generally located after their demise when family members have contacted the Police over concerns, but Police driving around searching every nook and cranny has historically been demonstrated as ineffective and an utter waste of time.

G-Tags will save lives with the chance of getting professional help to a desperate person. For a variety of reasons, people disappear in their cars, from murder victims to abductions to the mentally ill. To be able to locate their car using G-Tag will lead to interventions that will save lives..Rural application- The application in Rural and remote Victoria is very sound, considering being able to locate a tractor on a large remote property, or a driver overdue to destinations, particularly in times of natural disaster. This will also reduce the number of unnecessary searches.

The applications of G-Tag technology can be extended to include watercraft and recreational vehicles.

1. Technology instead of manpower. The thousands of man-hours expended by emergency services, particularly Police, can be dramatically reduced in multiple circumstances by the G-Tag.  Policing will become more efficient and effective, reducing pressure on Police resources.
2. Criminal activity – nearly every crime has a vehicle involved, and enabling the Police to manage these vehicles, whether stolen or not, will go a long way to reducing crime.
3. Terrorism Investigations would have the advantage of monitoring vehicles with G-Tag’s without intrusion to better understand the risks posed by suspects.

The use of vehicles as a weapon in Terrorism is commonplace in the current war zones and is likely to appear in Australia when Daesh fighters and or their families return, bringing that knowledge with them.

1. Criminal Behaviour –There is a current spate of home invasions where perpetrators physically confront victims in their homes by forced entry to gain access to keys to steal high-end motor vehicles. This type of activity is on the rise; there is a substantial risk of serious harm, or even death, to the victim. The ability to track these vehicles by G-Tag and immobilise them is very attractive to the victims and the Police.
2. Illicit Drugs must be transported in vehicles at some stage. Access to G-Tag technology will provide invaluable assistance in managing the importation and trafficking of drugs.
3. Hoon Drivers –can be monitored and removed from our roads. Known hoons’ vehicles can be tagged in the G-Tag system, and an alarm indicating when like-tagged vehicles are identified by the system to be congregating can give Police the opportunity to intervene before the dangers escalate.
4. Police Pursuits – This technology virtually eliminates the need for a pursuit and the disabling of the car by G-Tag reduces risk to the Community, the Police and even the offender.
5. Emergency vehicles – can easily and reliably be located and managed when civil emergencies occur. Incident managers could recognise the precise locations of fire appliances during bushfire outbreaks, so as to direct them to where they are most needed – or away from impending danger.
6. Aerial surveillance – Currently undertaken by the Police Air Wing, there are limitations with availability and response times. The G-Tag will not replace the need for Aerial Surveillance as a Policing tool, but the G-Tag will greatly enhance the effectiveness of the Air Wing, reducing operating costs.
7. Legal implications – The data recorded in the G-Tag system has evidentiary value, as do E-Tags and Security Cameras; however, the potential for the improved data available from G-Tags will provide strong data of evidentiary value for Prosecution and Defence in equal benefit, further improving our judicial system.

Setting the case for Part 2 of this proposal using G-Tag.

The first part of this proposal, using converted E-Tag, will only reach a percentage of the Victorian fleet, and unless a case can be presented for voluntary take-up of G-Tags based on the E-Tag system, the limitations, although not totally limiting, will reduce the overall potential of the program. The advantage in converting E-Tags to G-Tags will ensure a rapid introduction of the program.

Part 2 introduces more sophisticated G-Tags (technology is currently available) that are hard-wired into the vehicle’s electronics and installed in locations where they cannot be easily removed or interfered with. This technology adds a new layer where the vehicle’s electronics can be activated remotely to put the vehicle into limp home mode (reducing its top speed to 80KPH) before activating the engine immobiliser to halt the vehicle. The only limitations will be that certain vehicles do not have the limp home mode and would be stopped at a safe place.

The upgraded G-Tags would need to be fitted to all new vehicles, including trucks, pre-delivery, and fitted to all cars as part of the roadworthy process. A moratorium would be required to set a reasonable time that all vehicles must comply, similar to other safety initiatives, including the introduction of seat belts.

Stage 2 will allow Police to intervene to stop the commission or continuance of a crime, the primary role of Police.

The issue of re-establishing the functionality of the vehicle when recovered, or is no longer a threat, is again a technical issue that should not prove insurmountable. If it can be switched off, it can be switched on; it is just a matter of protocols.

The cost debate

There is a cost, but as this is a new innovation, the technology development costs of G-Tag would be well offset by marketing the initiative interstate and overseas. A fee-for-service arrangement, assisting in setting up, and a fee for intellectual property would generate substantial income.

Part of the development costs could be covered by the Insurance Industry and TAC, which both stand to gain considerably. There would be nominal cost recovery from the users in the installation of a device into the existing fleet – manufacturers would be required to fit the device pre-delivery on all new vehicles.

An offset to the toll operator’s contribution will be the income generated when tracking devices are fitted to the Victorian fleet, to include the E-Tag function in the G-Tag; effectively, the E-Tag would be redundant.

With savings achieved for the State economy, the overall cost will be well offset. Recurring costs would be in part recovered by beneficiaries, namely, Insurance companies, Toll operators, TAC and the user.

Car owners will have to bear some costs, which are subsidised for Welfare recipients, but the cost should not be prohibitive, at around $200.

The proposal to introduce a pay-as-you-use system for registration, third-party, and comprehensive insurance will extend to the set-up and recurring costs of the system. The system could therefore potentially protect innocent victims from financial hardship as a result of vehicle damage. Potentially, the initiative could be cost-positive.

Technology

Anybody who owns a smartphone or has a Satellite navigation device is acutely aware of the power and application of technology.

Currently advertised on the internet for $35 is a tracking device that can be attached to a vehicle and linked to a smartphone. The technology exists and is small and relatively cheap.

With the increasing sophistication of motor vehicles and their reliance on computers to manage their engines, an opportunity exists to intervene in a vehicle’s performance. A large part (and increasing) of the Victorian fleet are vehicles that have an  inbuilt  “Limp Home Mode” in their computer systems, designed to protect the engine from further damage should a fault be detected

It is a matter of connecting the dots. If we can identify a vehicle using GPS locating technology by a G-Tag, we only need to develop a mechanism to access the vehicle’s computer via the G-Tag to activate the “Limp Home Mode” or the vehicle,” Immobilisation technology”.  A SIM card is the solution.

By designing and fitting an after-market G-Tag to attach to the electronics of vehicle’s the function of the vehicle can be managed. The power supply for the G-Tag is then secured for the life of the vehicle. The simplest method to communicate with the vehicle electronics is by a SIM card in the device using the Mobile network to communicate with the vehicle’s computer.

 The Issue of Privacy

In the 1980, there was a very vocal minority who saw themselves as the keepers of our privacy, objecting to the installation of the eight CCTV cameras for a Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) held in Melbourne. They vocalised on the prying eyes and the abuse that would occur should the cameras not be removed immediately, the conference was finished- “It’s a Police State”, was the mantra of the group.

Their plaintive cries are now fairly humorous, when we look around at the number of cameras that watch us on a daily basis, but there is no community concern, as it has been demonstrated that they serve the greater good, and law-abiding citizens do not care if they are watched.  Indeed, governments actively encourage wider use of CCTV in public places and the take-up of private CCTV systems – including those monitoring public spaces – is impressive.

This initiative has a distinct advantage over the CCTV cameras. The Cameras have a deterrent effect and assist with identifying perpetrators, but they cannot stop or prevent the continuation of a crime – the G-Tag can.

For anybody worried about the movement of their vehicle being monitored, then realise there are over 5 million vehicles in Victoria, so nobody would have the time, the resources, or the interest to monitor every vehicle – it will be enough just monitoring vehicles that are of particular interest. Law-abiding citizens just hide in the crowd.

-There is no reason to hide if you are being lawful.

 Impact on Judicial processes.

The implementation of this system will provide the Judiciary with an alternative in the sentencing of offenders, particularly for the less serious traffic infringements and in some cases other criminal activity.
Currently, lives are ruined financially and otherwise by fines and driving restrictions that cause offenders to lose employment and the capacity to pay fines, and in this double jeopardy, can ruin many young people’s lives. Correcting bad behaviour by bad outcomes destroys the chance of future compliance and does not lead to future compliance, but can, in desperation, lead particularly young people towards crime and, in desperation, drugs to escape what they see as a hopeless situation from which they see no escape.

The G-Tag system can be used to manage the use of a vehicle on certain roads and or times to allow Offenders to continue in employment, therefore enabling them to pay the fines but still having their mobility curtailed dramatically to serve as a punishment.

We are not suggesting this facility become run of the mill, but for cases where a driver may exceed .05 after a reading shows residual alcohol or drugs in the low range. Or where breaches of Licence offences and registration matters can be managed without ruining lives.

The increase in penalty recovery would justify offenders retaining employment and avoid forcing people onto welfare and damaging the state’s productivity.

 System Security

There will need to be legislation that includes safeguards for privacy and safeguards against tampering with the system, either the physical equipment or any signal emitted.

One of the best securities of the privacy of individuals is the overall size of the Victorian fleet. The agency monitoring the data will necessarily be focused on the important data, and the average law-abiding citizen will only be exposed to the system when they are a victim.

Conclusion

The G-Tag is an “out there” proposal, but there are a myriad far more extreme ideas that once seemed far-fetched that are now accepted as the mainstream norm, worldwide web, television and the telephone!

Anybody who has a mobile phone, shops at a supermarket or a volume traders store, has interaction with any political organisation, uses the internet, uses a financial institution, has an interaction with Health or Education systems and takes out Insurance, is part of the workforce or reliant on welfare has more detail of their lives recorded, trolled through and assessed than we care to think about. Still, it is a price we are willing to pay for convenience and a better quality of life.

We now accept security cameras as a way of life, as well as the dreaded speed cameras, an acceptable inconvenience that serves the greater good.

It will take leadership and innovative thought to implement this proposal; however, the advantages to the community make it a worthwhile project.

Our Prime Minister calls for Innovation – this is innovation that will save lives.

“I have worked hard to own my car, and if it gets stolen, I would be very happy that it could be located and disabled as soon as it is reported (minimising damage to it) . It would be a bonus if the lowlife who did it was caught.” A view that would be shared by the overwhelming majority of Victorians.

Recommendation

A working party should be established by the Government to draft the legislation to establish a G-Tag Authority with the role of developing the technology and designing the model for the ongoing management and operation of the system.

Ivan W. Ray

Secretary

Community Advocacy Alliance

CAA Submission relating to family Violence

by CAA | May 4, 2015 | Library, Uncategorized

Commissioner Marcia Neave AO

Submission relating to family violence – May 2015

We the undersigned, both former high ranking police officers, are very concerned that the real issues of family violence and crime generally are not being adequately addressed.
Almost all approaches to these issues are post the event. While diversionary programs are worthwhile, how much better it would be if people were discouraged from offending in the first place?
Early intervention is the key to reducing the horrific number of offences being committed.
Domestic violence, home grown terrorism, the scourge of Ice (methamphetamine) are all critical social issues that traditional diversionary strategies do not successfully address. We will not bore you with endless statistics on the basis that the figures are well known to you.
Domestic violence along with other critical issues and crime must be addressed within all schools educational curriculum and in our view is a message best delivered by Police.
Nothing else will be effective in breaking the present cycle of violence.
A quote attributed to Einstein, but not actually his, is still entirely relevant. “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.”
In 1976 Ivan Ray, then a serving member of the Victoria Police, introduced the “Blue Light Discos” which quickly spread throughout Victoria and to other jurisdictions both within and outside Australia. These Discos were staffed by police which brought police into close contact with youth while providing a safe environment in which young people could enjoy social contact. The relationship between young people and police improved dramatically where this initiative continues to operate. There is a corresponding drop in the commission of criminal offences in these areas. Parents of young people attending appreciated that their youngsters were able to enjoy themselves in a safe and nurturing environment and were themselves induced to react more favourably to police, and, in many cases, had greater confidence in approaching police with their domestic violence problems and other issues. Anecdotal evidence of this is very strong.
In 1989 Kelvin Glare, then Chief Commissioner of the Victoria Police, introduced a “Police in Schools’ program. This program was highly successful until abolished by then Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon in 2005, a decision vehemently criticised by many including the Police Association (Union). Annexed hereto is a copy of a paper written by Ms Laurel Sutton of the Victoria Police which was presented at the conference “Partnerships in Crime Prevention”, convened jointly by the Australian Institute of Criminology and the National Campaign Against Violence and Crime held in Hobart, 25-27 February 1998. We commend this paper as succinctly encapsulating all the aspects of the Police in Schools program that made this program such an essential element in combating violence and crime. We regard the reintroduction of such a program as absolutely vital and urge an immediate reintroduction of a similar program.
Prevention is better than cure. Let’s call it, the Wait for the Act (WFTA) Syndrome. We must not wait for the crime to be committed and then provide Diversion. Wait for the Domestic Violence then divert males to Programs. Wait for the victims to suffer then Act. This WFTA Syndrome is the easy way out – it saves having to exercise, “those little grey cells” – Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot.
It is trite but true to say that resourcing the present ever increasing demand for police and community services to fight domestic violence and crime is becoming increasingly difficult. If resourcing levels cannot be increased then it is only logical to try to reduce demand and or develop new initiatives, like our proposal to recruit retired Police.
We are totally committed to pressing for change of focus from reactive programs to proactive programs as the only intelligent way forward.
However, we acknowledge that under any system there will still be those who commit criminal offences. At present there are a number of diversionary programs of greater or lesser worth. We do not ask for their abandonment. What we do point out is that these programs are operated in almost complete isolation from each other. There is no clear overriding philosophy and absolutely no coordination. No effort is made to ensure that an offender is diverted to the most appropriate program to deal with her or his situation. Unfortunately, the Victoria Police have withdrawn almost all of their >support for these programs and a classic example is from the Blue Light Disco organization, which, among other projects, has an excellent facility at Derby Hill which regularly accommodates various school groups. The Victoria Police are missing a golden opportunity to reach out to young people.
Speaking of young people Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner McWhirter said recently, “There seems to be a huge gap in terms of the capacity to support them.” Our sentiments exactly.

Conclusion
What we are now doing as a society to combat domestic violence and addressing other critical social issues is ineffective and wasteful.
The cost benefit of proactive programs far outweighs the benefits of reactive programs.
We respectfully submit.
(1) Reintroducing a proven system of a “Police in Schools” program in Victoria is a necessary step in curbing domestic violence and crime.
(2) Implementing a coordinating authority to regulate the interaction between all existing reactive programs has the potential to better direct particular offenders to the most appropriate program with a corresponding saving in scarce resources.
Again, prevention is better than cure.