Offenders to be Confined to 'Restriction Zones' on Release

Serious violent and sexual offenders in the UK will be confined to tightly controlled areas, known as 'restriction zones', after their release from prison. These zones, which can be as small as a few miles wide, aim to reduce the possibility of unwanted contact between offenders and their victims. The initiative, set to start in October, will use GPS-based electronic tags to monitor offenders' movements in real time. Victims will have a say in drawing up the restriction zones, and offenders who breach the conditions could be recalled to prison. The Justice Secretary, Alex Norris, stated that 'offenders should carry the consequences of their crimes, not their victims'.