Restriction zone scheme for offenders to start in October

A scheme that could see serious sexual and violent offenders confined to areas just a few miles wide after leaving prison will be launched in October, Justice Secretary Alex Norris has announced.

Government ministers say this is designed to give victims greater freedom and further reduce the possibility of unwanted contact

The intention to introduce "restriction zones" for violent offenders who leave prison and who are on probation was first announced by the government last year.

Probation officers will be able to limit where serious offenders can go for as long as it is deemed necessary. Those who breach their new boundaries could be recalled to prison.

This would go beyond the current practice of imposing "exclusion zones" which ban offenders from specific locations such as a victim's home or place of work.

Norris is expected to come up with proposals to further restrict the early release of some prisoners when Parliament resumes next month.

But the Conservatives say that the best thing Labour could do to protect victims is to bring forward emergency legislation which would stop the early release of thousands of criminals.

There is a risk that serious sexual and violent offenders and victims could encounter one another outside exclusion zones.