New GPS-tracked restriction zones for violent offenders to begin in October

Alex Norris revealed that from October, probation services will be able to impose GPS-monitored "restriction zones" on serious sexual and violent offenders released on licence, limiting their movements to areas only a few miles wide. Breaching these boundaries could lead to immediate re-imprisonment, extending the current practice of banning offenders from specific locations such as a victim's home. The government says the zones will be designed with input from victims to reduce unwanted contact.

Victim-advocate Amy Glover praised the change, though she called for broader criminal-justice reforms, and a survivor identified only as Kristina called the concept "fantastic" but stressed the need for reliable enforcement. The rollout follows recent amendments to early-release rules that now exclude rape and serious child-sex offenders, a move that the Prison Governors' association said adds pressure on prison staff. Officials claim additional staffing and technology will mitigate the impact on probation services.