EXCLUSIVE: Victims will have a say in setting boundaries, giving them greater freedom to travel without the fear of unexpectedly coming face-to-face with their offender
Serious sexual and violent offenders could be confined to small areas just a few miles wide after they’re released from prison.
In a world-first crackdown, ministers will bring in curbs to offenders’ freedom, with victims having a say in setting boundaries, giving them greater freedom to travel without the fear of unexpectedly coming face-to-face with their offender.
However, the zones will also ensure offenders can still access vital appointments and services that help to reduce their chances of reoffending.
The rollout starts in October, and will see GPS monitoring used to track their movements tracked around the clock, allowing probation services to identify breaches and take swift action when the rules are broken – including recalling them to prison.
The new scheme is a more rigorous version of “exclusion zones”, which ban offenders from specific locations such as a victim’s home or place of work.
Justice Secretary, Alex Norris, said: “No victim should fear the shadow of an abuser on their back.
“That’s why we’re putting limits on dangerous offenders, confining them to tightly controlled areas and giving victims greater freedom to get on with their lives.
“And with GPS technology helping probation keep track of offenders’ movements, those who step outside the boundaries can be quickly identified and face being sent back to prison.
“It is simple: offenders should carry the consequences of their crimes, not their victims.”
The zones can last for as long as they are needed to manage the risk posed by offenders on licence, with reviews taking place at least every three months.
Amy Glover, Director of Domestic Abuse Services at Advance, welcomed the changes. She said: “Domestic abuse disrupts, controls and restricts women’s lives in every way – including where they feel safe to go.
“All too often the onus and burden is placed on the victim to keep herself away from her abuser. She is the one who has to leave her home, her friends and family, her community.
“Restriction Zones aim to flip that onus onto the abuser – restricting them to a designated area, in theory meaning the victim/survivor isn’t the one whose movements are limited.”
Ministers have faced a backlash over the early release programme, which was designed to avoid the collapse of the crisis-hit prison system.