What options it has explored regarding the use of exclusion zones for offenders who have been released to ensure that they do not come into…

The Parole Board for Scotland can, and already do, use exclusion zones as part of licence conditions, to help manage the risk that a released prisoner comes into contact with their victim. These exclusion zones can be electronically monitored at present. Last year we legislated through the Management of Offenders (Scotland) Act 2019 to put in place a framework for improving monitoring capabilities, which has the potential to change how those exclusion zones are monitored. A new national contract for electronic monitoring was procured and was put in place from April this year which allows for the introduction of GPS technology into the electronic monitoring service. While Covid disruption has meant recent activity on electronic monitoring has focussed on maintaining and stabilising the current service, development of the service to incorporate new technology remains a key part of our planning for expansion of electronic monitoring in Scotland.