Some serious sexual and violent offenders could be confined to tightly controlled areas just a few miles wide after leaving prison under new restrictions launching in October.
The Ministry of Justice has confirmed that probation services in England and Wales will be able to impose new “restriction zones” designed to severely limit where some dangerous offenders can go while they remain on licence.
Victims will be able to have a say in how individual boundaries are drawn, while offenders subject to GPS monitoring can have their movements tracked around the clock.
Breaching the restrictions could lead to enforcement action, including recall to prison.
Offenders could be confined to areas just a few miles wide
The new system is intended to go further than existing exclusion zones, which generally prevent offenders from entering specified places such as a victim's home or workplace.
Instead of simply banning an offender from particular locations, a restriction zone can confine them to a tightly defined geographical area.
The Government says some zones could be only a few miles wide, depending on the circumstances of the case and the risk posed by the offender.
Probation officers will be responsible for drawing the boundaries while ensuring offenders can still attend essential appointments and access services intended to reduce reoffending.
Victims to have a say in boundaries
The Ministry of Justice said the policy had been shaped by the experiences and campaigning of victims.
Victims will be able to contribute to decisions over individual zones, with the Government arguing that the system will give them greater freedom to travel without fearing an unexpected encounter with their offender.
The restrictions can remain in place for as long as probation services consider them necessary to manage the risk posed by an offender on licence.
Cases will be reviewed at least once every three months.
GPS tags will monitor movements
Offenders subject to GPS monitoring will have their movements tracked, allowing probation services to identify when they cross a boundary.
The Government says breaches can trigger swift enforcement action and may ultimately result in an offender being recalled to prison.
Justice Secretary Alex Norris said offenders should carry the consequences of their crimes rather than leaving victims effectively restricted in where they feel safe to travel.
Scheme launches in October
The restriction-zone scheme is due to launch in October across England and Wales.
It forms part of a wider expansion of electronic monitoring and community supervision as the Government implements changes to the prison and sentencing system.
Ministers have committed £700 million to probation and community services by 2028-29, including an expansion of electronic monitoring and the recruitment of 1,300 additional probation officers this year.
The Government has separately confirmed that murderers and offenders serving sentences for rape, serious child sexual abuse and specified grooming offences are excluded from changes that could bring forward release dates under the new sentencing framework.
Eligibility details still to be announced
The Government has not yet published the full criteria determining exactly which offenders will be placed within restriction zones.
The Ministry of Justice said further details on eligibility will be announced in due course and that ministers will work with victims' organisations and other stakeholders as the policy is rolled out.
That means the new restrictions should not be described as automatically applying to every sexual or violent offender released from prison.
The confirmed policy is that probation services will gain the ability to impose tightly drawn zones on some of the most dangerous offenders where they consider the measure necessary to manage risk and protect victims.