SUPPORT FOR 'BRINGING BACK' AUSTRALIA'S MOST WANTED
A PROPOSAL for an Australian Government-sponsored television program aimed at raising community awareness of serious unsolved crimes and missing person cases will be investigated.
Inspired by the former Channel Seven program Australia’s Most Wanted, and with high profile cases remaining unresolved in Tasmania, Senator Stephen Parry wrote to the Government in September to flag the idea.
The former police officer advocated a short, weekly program produced by the Government and offered to television stations across the nation for screening as a community service.
Home Affairs Minister Brendan O’Connor recently replied to Senator Parry’s letter, saying the suggestion would be considered as part of a major study into national case management.
The federal agency CrimTrac is conducting a feasibility study into uniform approaches to managing criminal investigations, he said.
``The Feasibility Study into National Case Management will explore the viability of a common approach to sharing incident and event information nationally to support a national view of incidents, identification of links between incidents, and cross jurisdictional incidents,’’ Mr O’Connor wrote.
``It is within this context that the issues you raise in your letter regarding strategies for increasing community awareness in matters of crime prevention and law enforcement will be addressed.’’
Senator Parry said it was an encouraging response to a suggestion made in good faith.
``We know through the Australia’s Most Wanted experience that national television exposure can help to bring closure to families who have lost loved ones, to give them answers, to give them justice.
``I am pleased the Government is giving the idea of a federally-sponsored program, inspired by this show, serious thought.’’
