Police ‘optimistic’ about solving 2022 rape case at Broome bush doof

A senior police officer has revealed new “lines of investigation” have emerged during his nearly week-long stay in Broome, where he is probing the 2022 rape and assault of a woman at Cable Beach. Last Friday, WA Police made the landmark announcement of a $250,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the perpetrator of the crime. It is the first time a reward for information on a sexual assault has been offered in the State. In addition to the reward, detectives from the special crime squad have been sent from Perth to Broome this week to continue their investigation. The then 31-year-old woman was backpacking through Broome when she attended a “bush doof” party of about 200 people at Cable Beach on May 29, 2022. The woman left the dance floor in the early hours of the morning, wandering to nearby sand dunes to go to the toilet when she was battered across the head then sexually assaulted. Det. Sen-Sgt Luke Fowler of the special crime squad said the “complex factors” of the case have contributed to it going unsolved for more than two years. “While there was a well-lit dance floor, the surrounding area of the bush doof was not, you’ve got sand dunes and other sorts of places (that) people could lurk in,” he said. “That’s why we’re saying it’s not necessarily an attendee of the event, it could be someone standing on the periphery, waiting to target a lone female.” To further engage the Broome community, special crime squad detectives set up mobile policing facilities at Cable Beach and Male Oval. Det. Sen-Sgt Fowler said the facilities were employed to gain direct information from the community, who might not have seen or heard the announcement of the reward. “There are a lot of transient people in the Broome community, who might not be watching the news or on Facebook and might not know about the reward.” “The facilities have been a public-facing strategy where people can approach us directly, so their information doesn’t have to go through the filtering process and we can action it immediately.” Fellow special squad investigator Det-Sgt Shane Hugo commended the local response to the case, but also highlighted the “valuable” role the backpacking community had played in helping police with their investigation. “They have been very supportive of the investigation, with giving their DNA to us and providing information,” Sgt Hugo said. While acknowledging the complexities of the investigation, Det. Sen-Sgt Fowler said he was “optimistic” about solving the case. “A lot of optimism has come from the reward, and discussions around town, as well as the community’s interest in solving it,” he said. Information can be reported anonymously at Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at crimestopperswa.com.au.