Domestic abusers could find themselves subject to electronic tags upon release from prison

A new scheme will be launched in the East and West Midlands, which will see offenders that pose a threat to their former partner and/or their children, being subject to electronic tagging. This will help protect victims from further abuse following their perpetrators’ release from prison.

How will this new scheme help protect victims?

Where offenders are forbidden from entering a certain distance of the victims home, electronic tags will be able to monitor the offenders whereabouts and ensure they abide by curfews. Offenders who do not comply with these conditions may be returned to prison. The scheme is expected to be further rolled out across England and Wales in 2024, and will see up to 500 prison leavers finding themselves subject to either a GPS or curfew tag when released from prison.

Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary, Alex Chalk, said that “the tagging of prison leavers at risk of committing further domestic abuse is a further protection we are introducing to help victims rebuild their lives and feel safe in their communities.”

What is the Unwanted Prisoner Contact Service?

It has been announced by the government that the Unwanted Prisoner Contact Service, which launched last year, has protected over 2,700 victims from further abuse and harassment from their imprisoned abusers. This service prevents offenders being able to dial a victim’s number from prison phones or send threatening letters to their address from prison. Since the services’ relaunch in June 2022, there have been over 3,000 reports made to the Unwanted Prisoner Contact Service.

The Domestic Abuse Commissioner for England and Wales, Nicole Jacobs, said that “by blocking perpetrators from contacting victims, the Unwanted Prisoner Contact scheme sets an important standard that the criminal justice system will not be used to further domestic abuse, making a different for survivor’s safety, recovery and freedom from abuse.”

The Service can be used by completing a simple online form and can allow domestic violence charities and other support services to file reports on behalf of the victims. To stop unwanted prisoner contact, go to: www.gov.uk/stop-prisoner-contact.

How can Johnson Astills help?

If you or someone you know is being subjected to domestic abuse, please contact the Domestic Violence and Abuse Department (DVAD) for expert advice as to what protective measures are available to you. You can contact Johnson Astills by telephoning our office in Leicester on 0116 255 4855 or our office in Loughborough on 01509 610 312. Alternatively, you may prefer to email us at legal@johnsonastills.com or fill in our enquiry form.