Police and Crime Commissioner for the West Midlands and the region’s Victims’ Advocate have today welcomed new Restriction Zones to empower and protect victims from the most serious sexual and violent offenders.
Under new plans outlined by the Government, offenders will now be restricted to remaining in certain areas – as opposed to being banned from the vicinity of their victim’s home address. It means victims will now be able to travel anywhere, free from the anxiety, fear and intimidation of meeting their offender in public.
At the moment, offenders can be excluded from entering particular areas, known as exclusion zones. Whilst ‘exclusion zones’ are a valuable tool, to stop offenders from entering a location where their victim lives or frequents, the new Restriction Zones go further and instead, require the offender to remain within the Restriction Zone.
Proven technology, such as electronic tags, will be used to make sure offenders remain in their allocated Restriction Zone and, if they stray, they risk being returned to prison.
Police and Crime Commissioner, Simon Foster, said: “Preventing and tackling violence against women and girls and ensuring the rights and welfare of victims, are always at the forefront of the criminal justice system, will always be top priorities for me.
“That is why, I welcome the introduction of new Restriction Zones, for the most serious sexual and violent offenders, together with increased tagging for domestic abuse perpetrators, identifying domestic abuse perpetrators at sentencing, expanding specialist domestic abuse courts and increasing transparency for victims at sentencing.
“These reforms, will contribute to empowering victims, so as to ensure, they have the best possible opportunity, to rebuild their lives, without fear, but with the benefit of freedom, safety and security.”
Commenting on today’s announcement, West Midlands Victims’ Advocate Natalie Queiroz MBE added: “For far too long the onus has been on victims to adapt their lives even further after significant traumatic events, to live within certain areas designated ‘safe’ from their perpetrator, yet not have that protection should they need to travel outside the relatively small ‘exclusion zones’ imposed on perpetrators.
“This change empowers victims to be part of the creation of these Restriction Zones to allow them the freedom to travel anywhere outside that restriction zone without fear of crossing paths with their perpetrator and enable them to continue to rebuild their lives with greater security and peace of mind.
“Becoming a more victim-focused system is something that has been long-awaited and I look forward to taking part in future discussions around this evolving reform.”
Probation Officers, meanwhile, will conduct a detailed risk assessment and work hand-in-hand with victims on the creation of Restriction Zones, making sure zones prevent contact while giving survivors the maximum freedom to rebuild their lives.
Wider reforms throughout the probation system have also been announced today that will also see tens of thousands more offenders tagged – backed by a huge boost in funding of up to £700 million by 2028/29.
In addition, at least 1,300 new trainee probation officers will be brought in next year to increase capacity and new technology will lighten the administrative burden and free up time for workers to effectively supervise the most dangerous offenders and keep the public safe.
Protecting, empowering and supporting victims is a top priority for West Midlands PCC Simon Foster, who is responsible for the commissioning of £6.7 million of victim support services, within the West Midlands, to ensure that victims are able to access the right advice and support, at the right time, in the right place and from the right service.
There are a range of services across the West Midlands for people who need help. Visit our dedicated victims page for more details.
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