The UK government has announced that released sex and violent offenders will be confined to restriction zones of a few miles and fitted with GPS tags in a bid to prevent reoffending. Victims will have a say in setting the boundaries to limit the chances of unexpectedly encountering their perpetrators, according to plans unveiled by the Ministry of Justice.
New restrictions go beyond exclusion zones
The new measures will replace the current practice of imposing ‘exclusion zones’, which only stopped criminals from going to specific locations such as a victim’s workplace or home. Under the new system, offenders will be restricted to broader areas for as long as their probation officers see fit, and those who breach the conditions could be recalled to prison.
The restriction zones will be enforced by GPS-based electronic tags that can track offenders’ movements in real time, 24/7. Offenders will also receive push notifications when they approach the boundary of an exclusion zone, warning them to turn back.
Justice Secretary outlines victim protection
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.’
Norris added: ‘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.’
Additional measures for serious offenders
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. 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.
Context of prison overcrowding and probation pressures
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.
