Question
The issue of electronic monitoring does not concern only those on early release. Michele, a victim of domestic abuse, has a restraining order against her ex-partner until 2036 that the police say he is regularly breaching. Ten days after his release, she contacted me for the fourth time to say that he still did not have a tag. As we went into half term, she said: “I’ve not left my house all week. The children can’t go out in half term. We don’t feel safe.” The liaison officers know that a breach is going to happen again, and family members are now staying with her, one at a time, to make sure she is not alone. I totally understand the January deadline—there are a lot of people to deal with—but will the Minister make a commitment that serial victims of domestic abuse will be prioritised so that children do not have to look over their shoulder?
Answer
The hon. Lady raises an important case. I am very sorry to hear about the situation that her constituent is dealing with this half term. Obviously, that needs to be escalated to the appropriate people. A whole variety of measures are used to ensure victim engagement, including the victim contact helpline, and specific orders can be put on domestic abuse offenders. I appreciate the ongoing concerns, and I would be happy to engage with the hon. Lady about this case.
Verdict: RED (12/100)
The question asked whether the Minister would commit to prioritising serial domestic abuse victims for electronic monitoring of ex-partners or offenders. The reply does not address that request. It describes general victim support, such as a helpline, and says protective orders can be placed on offenders, but it makes no commitment on electronic monitoring or prioritisation. It only offers to engage with the MP about this specific case, so the asker would likely need to follow up for a direct answer.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Will the Minister commit to prioritising serial victims of domestic abuse for electronic monitoring (tagging) of their ex-partners or offenders, given the January deadline? | Partially Addressed | Generic MISREADS QUESTION | The question asks whether the Minister will commit to prioritising serial domestic abuse victims for electronic monitoring of ex-partners or offenders, and the reply never mentions tagging, prioritisation, or a commitment on that point. It instead describes general victim engagement measures (the helpline) and says that orders can be put on offenders, which touches the broader area without answering the specific request, and offers only to engage with the MP about this case. |