Police huntwanted man

THE hunt is on for a released prisoner in the Dandenong area who breached his parole conditions.
On 1 February, police released the names of the top 12 parole breakers in Victoria as part of operation ROPE (Repeat Offender Parole Enforcement). They have since caught three of them.
One of the offenders they are looking for is 35-year-old Matthew Hooper. He is about 185cm with an olive complexion. Police believe he is in the Dandenong area.
This was the second year Operation ROPE has been run with Victoria Police, the Adult Parole Board and Office of Corrections to ensure offenders who do not abide by parole conditions are apprehended, Detective Inspector Bernie Rankin said.
“Operation ROPE has been extremely successful in the past and we’re hoping that success will be repeated this year,” Det Insp Rankin said.
Since it began in June 2008, Operation ROPE investigators and Victoria Police members in the various police regions have executed breach of parole warrants on 442 offenders.
While there have been a number of offenders arrested, Det Insp Rankin said these made up only a small percentage of overall parolees.
“It must be emphasised that the majority of offenders released on parole abide by the conditions placed upon them and return to the community without undertaking further criminal activity” he said.
“A significant number of parole breaches are for simply failing to notify authorities of a change of address, failing to meet with parole officers or other similar conditions the individuals are obliged to meet.”
Police are urging anyone who may know the whereabouts of Mr Hooper or other parole breakers to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppers.com.au.