MOORE KEYSTONE COPS

There’s a killer walking the streets of Melbourne today. A dangerous and vicious man who escaped from custody a week ago in a security lapse worthy of the Keystone Cops.You don’t know about it because Victoria Police and Federal Police have not put out a public alert for him. Probably somebody wanted to quietly get him back into custody without public attention. And then get him out of the country.

His name is Andrew Derek Moore. He’s 43. A brutal undesirable with a form sheet going back more than 25 years to his teenage years. He was charged with murder but spent time behind bars for manslaughter. There were drug convictions, theft, assault, weapons charges, domestic violence, assault police.

Moore is an illegal migrant. Understandably. A Scottish-born, British citizen who had been in custody at the Maribyrnong Detention Centre for nearly three years.  He was due to be deported this week after exhausting all legal avenues to stay here–presumably at taxpayers’ expense.

He’s still here and walking around free and I’ll tell you how.

Last Friday Moore was taken from the detention centre to Vaucluse Hospital in Moreland Road, Brunswick. He needed medical treatment for a probably bogus illness.

He was accompanied by two security guards from the private security firm that manages the detention centre for the Immigration Department. Despite his criminal history –and the fact that the clock was ticking for his final deportation – he was not handcuffed.

Not surprisingly, at the hospital he escaped. He was collected by an accomplice in a car which means the escape was planned and you wonder what phone communications Moore was allowed to set up the escape.

The bungling continued. Victoria Police were not notified for hours and even then the call went to Footscray (where the detention centre is) and not to Brunswick Police where the escape happened.

It was three more days before Victoria Police sent out an alert from the Fawkner Police station to stations in the Hume, Moonee Valley, Moreland areas.

Three days before they sent out a photo and a description of the escape vehicle: a white 95 Holden Commodore  with a registration something like FSL 847.

Andrew Derek Moore has plenty of family and friends here. I’m told, in Dromana, Seymour, Boronia, Kilsyth, Ferntree Gully, Blackburn North and Collingwood. He could be hiding anywhere.

I’m not blaming Victoria Police for this dangerous schmozzle. Moore should never have been escorted, without handcuffs, by guards not equipped to deal with an escapee.

And, as I understand it, the Federal Police and Immigration aren’t even looking for him. They’ve virtually told the local coppers ‘If you happen to find him, please let us know’.

Yes, Minister.

Thursday, May 21, 2009

© Copyright Derryn Hinch 2009