AFP officer accused of making false declaration behind bars after alleged bail breaches

An employee of the Australian Federal Police (AFP) has been remanded in custody after he allegedly breached the bail he had received for dishonesty-related charges.

Daniel Robert David Jones, 30, has pleaded not guilty to charges of making a false statement for a statutory declaration and giving false or misleading information for an application.

These charges relate to his application as a protective services officer to the AFP, which allegedly involved false and misleading information, including regarding statutory declarations.

He was arrested on 12 December 2023 and then released on bail, but allegedly breached his bail conditions shortly after, the ACT Magistrates Court heard on Thursday (18 January).

He was granted bail for a second time on 13 December and warned about breaching his conditions.

However, Mr Jones had then been accused of driving past an alleged witness’s home three times – on 4, 7 and 13 January – while beeping his horn excessively, even though his bail conditions included that he not go near her.

Prosecutor Natasha Purvis alleged this showed continual defiance and was designed to intimidate the woman, a person he knows. The woman said she was “shaken” after the incidents.

Mr Jones was a protective services officer who had been trained in adhering to court orders and bail conditions, Ms Purvis said.

“This isn’t merely slip-ups,” she alleged.

Peter Woodhouse of Aulich, representing Mr Jones, said the woman had reported that his client’s beeping had previously been done as something affectionate. His client said he beeped that way at family members as well.

Mr Jones admitted to the breach on 4 January but said he had been beeping at someone else on the same street on 7 January and denied that it had been him on 13 January.

Mr Woodhouse said since the last time bail was granted, his client had found alternative employment as an electrician as he had been suspended from the AFP.

Ms Purvis had applied for bail to be revoked on Thursday, while Mr Woodhouse had fought for his client to be released with an extra condition to remain 500 metres from the woman’s address.

Chief Magistrate Lorraine Walker said Mr Jones was facing serious charges that reflected on the nature of his honesty and integrity.

She said the alleged bail breaches were at best cavalier and at worst conscious, that they created a significant risk of interfering with evidence and she was not satisfied Mr Jones would comply with bail.

Bail was refused and the matter was adjourned to 22 February.

Mr Jones lives with his parents in Gordon and has been suspended from his duties with the AFP.