EXCLUSIVE: Joe Spagnolo, chief political reporter News | Breaking News from Perth and Western Australia | PerthNow
July 11, 2009 06:00pm
EXCLUSIVE: ANIMAL cruelty offenders will undergo psychological assessments and be monitored by police in a bid to stop their violence escalating.
The proposal by the Barnett Government -- believed to be the first of its kind in Australia -- is aimed at breaking cycles of abuse, amid fears that some animal attackers can develop into serial killers.
Details of those convicted of animal cruelty would go on to a police database so officers could monitor their behavior and record any further offences.
The slaying of a number of kangaroos and other animals over the past year prompted the RSPCA to lobby the State Government to take action, with concerns that the worst offenders were a timebomb waiting to go off.
RSPCA president Lynne Bradshaw said the phenomenon known as ``the cruelty connection'' demonstrated a correlation between cruelty to animals and violence to humans.
She said Paul Denyer, who killed three women in Frankston, Victoria, in 1993, was a typical example, with a history of animal abuse beginning in childhood.
``Science tells us that individuals who inflict pain on animals do not always confine their violence to animals alone,'' Ms Bradshaw said.
Police Minister Rob Johnson, who is working with Attorney-General Christian Porter and Local Government Minister John Castrilli on the legal changes, said yesterday the Government would also consider increasing the penalties for serious offences against animals, believing they weren't strong enough.
In March an 18-year-old man was fined $3000 for his part in the brutal slaughter of a kangaroo found beheaded and gutted in Dawesville.
``We have seen some horrific incidents recently where kangaroos have been shot with crossbows and left in serious pain,'' Mr Johnson said. ``We have seen cases where people have killed domestic animals as well.
``People who commit those crimes need treatment -- they are sick.
``And the only way you can determine that is if psychiatric tests are taken upon conviction.
``I think the police can come into it in various areas. Anybody convicted of this sort of criminal act would be on a criminal database and it's not unreasonable for police to use that for profiling purposes in case there are future cases of animal cruelty.''
In the past 12 months, attacks on kangaroos have particularly shocked the RSPCA.
In one case a kangaroo was dragged behind a vehicle in Gidgegannup; in other cases, kangaroos have been mutilated.
A study by the US Humane Society found 36 per cent of serial killers had admitted committing animal cruelty as children, 46 per cent had admitted committing animal cruelty as adolescents and 36 per cent had admitted committing animal cruelty as adults.
``The 1970s research into prisoner profiles found a strong link between serial killers and a history of cruelty to animals,'' Ms Bradshaw said. ``More recent studies into current and past cases have confirmed that link.
``Another study suggests that animal abusers are five times more likely to commit violent crimes against people and four times more likely to commit property crimes than are individuals without a history of animal abuse.''
THE trail of destruction:
September 28, 2008: A youth is shown on an Internet video beating a kangaroo unconscious.
December 30, 2008: A kangaroo, believed to be a young, adult male, is killed at the Rockingham Golf Course. At least five kangaroos had been mutilated in the two months prior to this incidence.
January 29, 2009: A kangaroo is found hanged in Manjimup.
January 30, 2009: A kangaroo is shot with a crossbow in Byford.
January 31, 2009: A kangaroo is dragged behind a vehicle to its death in Gidgegannup.
February 15, 2009: A kangaroo is beheaded and gutted in Daweseville.
June 15, 2009: A kangaroo is found with one of its front paws amputated and another is found mutilated.
July 11, 2009 06:00pm
EXCLUSIVE: ANIMAL cruelty offenders will undergo psychological assessments and be monitored by police in a bid to stop their violence escalating.
The proposal by the Barnett Government -- believed to be the first of its kind in Australia -- is aimed at breaking cycles of abuse, amid fears that some animal attackers can develop into serial killers.
Details of those convicted of animal cruelty would go on to a police database so officers could monitor their behavior and record any further offences.
The slaying of a number of kangaroos and other animals over the past year prompted the RSPCA to lobby the State Government to take action, with concerns that the worst offenders were a timebomb waiting to go off.
RSPCA president Lynne Bradshaw said the phenomenon known as ``the cruelty connection'' demonstrated a correlation between cruelty to animals and violence to humans.
She said Paul Denyer, who killed three women in Frankston, Victoria, in 1993, was a typical example, with a history of animal abuse beginning in childhood.
``Science tells us that individuals who inflict pain on animals do not always confine their violence to animals alone,'' Ms Bradshaw said.
Police Minister Rob Johnson, who is working with Attorney-General Christian Porter and Local Government Minister John Castrilli on the legal changes, said yesterday the Government would also consider increasing the penalties for serious offences against animals, believing they weren't strong enough.
In March an 18-year-old man was fined $3000 for his part in the brutal slaughter of a kangaroo found beheaded and gutted in Dawesville.
``We have seen some horrific incidents recently where kangaroos have been shot with crossbows and left in serious pain,'' Mr Johnson said. ``We have seen cases where people have killed domestic animals as well.
``People who commit those crimes need treatment -- they are sick.
``And the only way you can determine that is if psychiatric tests are taken upon conviction.
``I think the police can come into it in various areas. Anybody convicted of this sort of criminal act would be on a criminal database and it's not unreasonable for police to use that for profiling purposes in case there are future cases of animal cruelty.''
In the past 12 months, attacks on kangaroos have particularly shocked the RSPCA.
In one case a kangaroo was dragged behind a vehicle in Gidgegannup; in other cases, kangaroos have been mutilated.
A study by the US Humane Society found 36 per cent of serial killers had admitted committing animal cruelty as children, 46 per cent had admitted committing animal cruelty as adolescents and 36 per cent had admitted committing animal cruelty as adults.
``The 1970s research into prisoner profiles found a strong link between serial killers and a history of cruelty to animals,'' Ms Bradshaw said. ``More recent studies into current and past cases have confirmed that link.
``Another study suggests that animal abusers are five times more likely to commit violent crimes against people and four times more likely to commit property crimes than are individuals without a history of animal abuse.''
THE trail of destruction:
September 28, 2008: A youth is shown on an Internet video beating a kangaroo unconscious.
December 30, 2008: A kangaroo, believed to be a young, adult male, is killed at the Rockingham Golf Course. At least five kangaroos had been mutilated in the two months prior to this incidence.
January 29, 2009: A kangaroo is found hanged in Manjimup.
January 30, 2009: A kangaroo is shot with a crossbow in Byford.
January 31, 2009: A kangaroo is dragged behind a vehicle to its death in Gidgegannup.
February 15, 2009: A kangaroo is beheaded and gutted in Daweseville.
June 15, 2009: A kangaroo is found with one of its front paws amputated and another is found mutilated.