James Gargasoulas could have been stopped before his murderous rampage if elite Victoria Police team had been driving more powerful, four-wheel-drive vehicles, finds internal report
raises concerns about the safety and effectiveness of the Volkswagen vans that CIRT officers are still using two years after the massacre to respond to high-risk incidents involving the most dangerous offenders.
Victoria Police also ignored a recommendation made by CIRT members after the massacre asking for specific powers to intercept vehicles threatening public safety. A CIRT report says Volkswagen vans used by the elite team are cumbersome, slow, poor-handling, slow-braking, slow-accelerating and not equipped or designed for urgent police response needs.The report signed by five serving or former CIRT members in August 2017 said members believed Gargasoulas could have been safely arrested "multiple times" before he drove down Bourke Street.
"CIRT members believe the VW vans are cumbersome, slow, poor-handling, slow-braking, slow-accelerating vehicles and not equipped or designed for dynamic or urgent tactical police response needs," the report states.Credit:In June 2017, a van became bogged at Melbourne Airport when CIRT responded to reports of a bomb on a plane. On other occasions, the vans were unable to keep up with fleeing offenders.
The review of CIRT's involvement in the pursuit of Gargasoulas urged force command to give the unit the authority to make mobile and static vehicle intercepts.
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