Plans to restrict where violent and sexual offenders can go

The government is in the process of developing legislation that would impose restrictions on serious sexual and violent criminals, compelling them to reside in specific areas. These offenders would be confined to a geographic zone, subject to heightened monitoring and enhanced tagging. While exclusion zones are already utilized in license restrictions to prohibit offenders from certain areas, this new system would designate the limited area where they are permitted to go, providing victims with a greater sense of security.

Concerns have been raised regarding the potential strain these plans may place on the probation service. The government aims to address this by increasing staff numbers and utilizing technology more extensively. Currently, serious sexual and violent offenders released on license can be instructed to avoid entering the vicinity where their victim resides. However, there is still a risk of their paths crossing outside of these exclusion zones.

Under the proposed government initiatives, the focus would shift towards confining offenders to specific areas customized to their circumstances, developed in consultation with the victim. Non-compliance with these restrictions could result in imprisonment. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) asserts that this approach would enable victims to travel without fear of encountering their attacker. Victims Minister Alex Davies-Jones emphasized that this new strategy would provide victims with the peace of mind they deserve, allowing them to rebuild their lives without the looming threat of fear.

While the MoJ plans to enhance monitoring through increased tagging of released offenders and greater utilization of monitoring technology, concerns remain about the additional pressure these restriction zones would place on the probation service. Some probation officers have expressed apprehension about the mounting responsibilities and stress associated with monitoring offenders in the community, especially when already facing challenges in this capacity. The government is seeking to recruit at least 1,300 new trainee probation officers next year to bolster monitoring capabilities, recognizing the need for increased support in this area

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