The government has announced plans to confine released sex and violent offenders to restriction zones of a few miles, monitored by GPS tags, in a bid to prevent reoffending.
Victims will have a say in setting the boundaries of these zones to limit the chances of unexpectedly encountering their perpetrators. Offenders will be restricted for as long as their probation officers see fit, and those who breach the conditions could be recalled to prison.
Expanding beyond exclusion zones
The plans go beyond the current practice of imposing 'exclusion zones', which stopped criminals going to specific locations such as a victim's workplace or home. The restriction zones will be enforced by GPS-based electronic tags that can track the movements of offenders in real time, 24/7.
Justice Secretary Alex Norris said: 'No victim should fear the shadow of an abuser on their back.'
Victims' freedom and offender accountability
Norris added: '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.'
Norris has previously announced that all rapists and child sex offenders will be tagged for at least a year after being released from serving their full jail sentences. Under the plans, offenders will receive push notifications when they approach the boundary of an exclusion zone, warning them to turn back.
Additional measures and probation pressure
The Ministry of Justice has also said it will introduce random drug testing for 1,000 offenders every month. People convicted of rape or serious child sex offences will also face closer contact with probation and mandatory referrals to the most secure accommodation.
The restriction scheme comes as the government is reconsidering plans to release prisoners early amid an overcrowding crisis. Andy Burnham has already blocked the early release of rapists and child groomers. Ministers are also reviewing how to stop the early release of Pc Andrew Harper's two killers.
The early release scheme has faced warnings that it could overwhelm the probation system. Martin Jones, the chief inspector of probation, has previously said he is 'anxious' about freeing so many inmates early when the probation service is already 'under huge pressure' because of staff shortages. The Ministry of Justice said it was pumping £700 million into probation and community services, and recruiting an extra 1,300 new probation officers this year.
