West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner gives his verdict on Restriction Zones aimed to help victims of serious sexual and violent offenders

West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster and Victims’ Advocate Natalie Queiroz MBE said the new Government plans will help empower and protect people from the most serious offenders.

Restriction Zones will ensure offenders have to remain 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.

Police bosses said the new plans will go further than ‘exclusion zones’ which are currently in place.

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.

Mr 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.”

Natalie Queiroz 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 will conduct a detailed risk assessment and work with victims on the creation of Restriction Zones.