World-first crackdown to restrict offenders’ freedom and give it back to victims
The UK Government will introduce world-first restriction zones for serious sexual and violent offenders in England and Wales from October, confining them to small areas to protect victims and allow greater freedom of movement.
Serious sexual and violent offenders in England and Wales may face new restriction zones as small as a few miles wide upon release, marking the first scheme of its kind globally. These zones, shaped by victim input, will replace traditional exclusion zones by confining offenders to defined areas rather than banning them from specific locations. Probation services will monitor movements via GPS, enabling swift action if boundaries are breached, including potential recall to prison. The approach aims to reduce victims' fear of unexpected encounters while ensuring offenders can still access essential services to support rehabilitation.
The zones will remain in place for as long as necessary to manage risk, with mandatory reviews at least every three months. Eligibility criteria will be published later, and the Government will collaborate with victims’ groups and stakeholders during implementation. Probation officers will design zones prioritising victims’ safety and daily freedoms, balancing restrictions with offenders’ access to appointments and services that reduce reoffending risks.
Justice Secretary confirmed plans to fast-track the detention of more dangerous offenders, including those convicted of murder, rape, serious child sexual abuse, and grooming offences, who are already ineligible for early release. The measures also include faster deportation of foreign criminals, improved use of women’s prisons, and a review of Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentences. Parliament will receive an update on these plans in early September.
The Government is investing £700 million in probation and community services by 2028/29, including the largest expansion of electronic monitoring to date. This funding will support the recruitment of 1,300 new probation officers in 2024, adding to the 2,300 hired over the past two years. The initiative aims to enhance public safety by keeping serious offenders under closer supervision and better protecting victims from the consequences of their crimes.