Bailed DV offenders to wear ankle monitors from Friday

From today, people accused of serious domestic violence crimes will have to wear ankle monitors if they are released on bail, so authorities can monitor them 24/7.

Alleged serious domestic ­violence offenders released on bail will be required to wear an electronic ankle monitor from today (Friday) under a major crackdown on coward attacks.

Deemed one of the most significant reforms to bail laws in NSW, the Minns government has pushed the button on the start of the scheme, which will see alleged offenders monitored around the clock.

The move is part of a series of bail reforms introduced in the wake of several high-profile cases where alleged domestic violence offenders released on bail are accused of having gone on to attack their ex-partners, sparking community outcry.

It also comes after The Daily Telegraph launched a powerful new campaign against domestic violence perpetrators to call out the assaults for what they really are – coward attacks.

From Friday, alleged serious domestic violence offenders who are granted bail will be monitored using GPS technology.

Accused serious domestic ­violence offenders released on bail will have to wear an electronic ankle monitor.

Deputy Premier Prue Car welcomed the change in the law. Picture Gaye Gerard

The tracking will involve Corrective Services NSW watching the movements of alleged offenders against any geographic bail conditions that were imposed by the court.

These exclusion zones could include residential addresses, school and work locations, or suburbs or areas within a city.

If an alleged offender enters a restricted zone, a monitoring officer within the department will be immediately notified.

Should this occur, a corrections officer would then contact NSW Police to advise that a potential breach of bail conditions has occurred to enable an immediate response.

The new laws are among new measures the government has introduced to strengthen protections for victim-survivors of domestic, family and sexual violence.

Earlier this year, the NSW government tightened bail laws for people charged with domestic violence offences, forcing them to “show cause” for why they shouldn’t be detained.

Legislation was also recently introduced to create Serious Domestic Abuse Prevention Orders, allowing the court to impose any conditions considered appropriate to prevent a person’s involvement in domestic abuse.

The laws would also create new offences covering repeated and intentional breaches of Apprehended Domestic Violence Orders.

Deputy Premier Prue Car said the reforms meant it was now harder for alleged ­domestic violence offenders to get bail.

“But if they do, these new monitoring devices ensure Corrective Services will be able to keep an eye on their movements,” she said.

NSW Attorney-General Michael Daley said: “Domestic violence is an abhorrent crime and one that the NSW government will not tolerate.”

Welcoming the new monitoring scheme, Women’s Safety Commissioner Hannah Tonkin said victim-survivors would now have “greater peace of mind”.

“It’s vital for the NSW government to continue implementing reforms like this to better protect at-risk women,” she said.

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