The policy shift towards more intensive monitoring of domestic violence perpetrators

Abstract

In January 2019, long-awaited government policy proposals began to be clarified by HM Government, in relation to the monitoring of potential and known domestic violence perpetrators. This clarification related to two main proposals; for GPS tracking of offenders and abusers; and for the use of notification requirements (a 'domestic abusers register'), both as part of newly proposed powers for the courts. Under new legislative proposals contained in the draft Domestic Violence and Abuse Bill, a maximum of 1,000 offenders in England and Wales at any one time, who were subject to orders designed to better protect victims of domestic abuse of stalking , would be 'tagged' with 24-7, GPS-based electronic monitoring devices. The draft Bill, when enacted, would see the creation of Domestic Abuse Protection Orders, and part of the legislation that outlines their scope would then give a statutory underpinning to this particular public protection surveillance measure. These orders would also be used to require offenders to report to the police, to notify officers of their personal details as part of a 'domestic abuser register' system of risk management.