Restraints for the feet, intended to safeguard domestic violence victims
The German government has proposed a draft bill to introduce electronic ankle bracelets for perpetrators of domestic violence in high-risk cases. This move is aimed at preventing homicides or serious bodily harm in individual cases.
The Federal Ministry of Justice has put forward this proposal, which is based on Spain's model where electronic ankle bracelets, combined with victim and police alerts, have helped reduce femicides by about one third. The bill suggests that the ankle bracelets will be used for a limited time, initially for a maximum of six months, and can be extended by judges if the danger is still assessed to exist.
According to the Federal Criminal Police Office's report, more than 250,000 people became victims of domestic violence in 2023. Alarmingly, every few minutes, a woman in Germany is attacked by her partner or ex-partner, and almost every other day, a man kills his partner or ex-partner.
The draft bill also includes measures to increase the penalty for violations against the Protection from Violence Act. The penalty will be increased from a fine or up to two years imprisonment to a fine or up to three years imprisonment.
Family courts in Germany will now be able to mandate offenders to wear these devices for location tracking. They will also be able to order perpetrators to attend anti-violence training. This is part of a broader strategy to prevent and support victims of domestic violence.
Minister Stefanie Hubig (SPD) stated that the state must do more to protect victims of domestic violence, particularly women. She emphasised that the proposed measures are a significant step towards ensuring the safety of victims.
Experts assume that there is a dark figure of unreported cases of domestic violence in Germany. The proposed bill aims to create a nationwide regulation on domestic violence, which could potentially encourage more victims to come forward and seek help.
The amendment to the Violence Protection Act is a crucial step in the fight against domestic violence in Germany. The introduction of electronic ankle bracelets, combined with stricter penalties and mandatory anti-violence training, could potentially save lives and provide a much-needed early warning system for victims of domestic violence.
In Spain, since the introduction of electronic ankle bracelets in 2009, no victim has been killed, according to the draft bill. This offers a promising outlook for the potential impact of similar measures in Germany.
However, the success of these measures largely depends on the trust of victims. It is crucial that victims feel safe and supported in coming forward and utilising these tools for their protection.
The proposed bill is currently under review, and if approved, Germany could join Spain in implementing a comprehensive strategy to combat domestic violence.
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