Jailed domestic abusers in the UK will be required to wear electronic tags upon release from prison as part of new measures aimed at protecting victims. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) announced a pilot scheme that will see up to 500 offenders fitted with GPS monitoring devices. These tags will allow their location to be tracked and enable the imposition of strict curfews. Offenders who pose a threat to their former partners or their children are eligible for tagging under these measures. Their movements can also be restricted, including being prohibited from going near their victims’ homes. Breaching these rules can result in the offenders being sent back to jail. The pilot scheme will initially be rolled out in the east and west Midlands, with plans to expand it across England and Wales in the coming year.
The domestic abuse tagging initiative is part of a broader monitoring program implemented by the UK government. This program, extended in 2021, includes two other “world-first” projects: tagging thieves and burglars using location data to link them to further crimes, and implementing alcohol monitoring tags on post-custody offenders. The introduction of these strict new rules coincided with the release of statistics from the MoJ’s Unwanted Prisoner Contact Service, which showed that thousands of victims have been protected from further harassment by their imprisoned abusers. The service, which was relaunched last year, blocks prisoners from contacting their victims via phone and letters while they are incarcerated. Over 2,700 people have utilized this service, providing them with protection from threats and abuse.
Justice Secretary Alex Chalk described the tagging of prison leavers who are at risk of recommitting domestic abuse as an additional layer of protection for victims. He emphasized the government’s commitment to ensuring the safety of survivors and their ability to rebuild their lives and feel secure in their communities. Domestic Abuse Commissioner for England and Wales, Nicole Jacobs, welcomed the scheme as a positive step in victim protection and preventing the criminal justice system from being used to perpetuate domestic abuse. Valerie Wise, National Domestic Abuse Lead at the charity Victim Support, expressed optimism about the Unwanted Prisoner Contact Service, stating that survivors could now more easily and swiftly cease unwanted contact, allowing them to move forward and rebuild their lives.
However, Labour’s shadow justice secretary Steve Reed accused the government of disregarding domestic abuse and claimed that this pilot scheme was an insufficient effort to address the escalating violence against women and girls. Despite this criticism, the MoJ highlighted the success of the Unwanted Prisoner Contact Service, reporting that over 3,000 reports have been made since its relaunch in June 2022, representing a significant increase compared to the previous offline system. Of the 2,700 unique users who filed reports, 93 percent are female, many of whom are victims of domestic violence. The MoJ also noted that the service has been effective in disrupting criminal activities carried out by prisoners, such as the illicit use of mobile phones. Additionally, the scheme allows domestic violence charities and support services to submit reports on behalf of victims, alleviating the burden on survivors.
The UK government stated that these measures build upon previous efforts to combat violence against women and girls, including the Domestic Abuse Act, which introduced various victim protection measures. This legislation includes the establishment of new offenses for non-fatal strangulation and image-based abuse, as well as the prohibition of cross-examination by abusers in family courts. The government has also significantly increased funding for victim services and recruited additional Independent Domestic Violence Advisers.