Tightening Domestic Violence Monitoring: New Anklet Monitoring Regulations to Undergo Trials - Strengthening domestic violence regulations: Proposed stricter foot-binding restrictions being discussed
In a bid to address the rising concerns of domestic violence, Germany is actively considering implementing ankle tracking as a protective measure for victims, following the successful Spanish model.
According to the Ministry of the Interior, the number of reported incidents of domestic violence by partners remains at last year's level, while incidents by relatives are on the rise. This increase in reporting could be a reflection of a change in behavior, although the exact reason remains unclear.
The Social Democratic Party (SPD), the political force behind this proposed change, has submitted a draft bill to tighten the Police Act. This bill, if passed, would allow ankle tracking as a protective measure outside of terrorism cases. The ankle bracelet, currently only used for preventing terrorist crimes, could be expanded to include protection against domestic violence or other serious threats in the future.
The SPD proposal is modeled after Spain's system, where courts can order the wearing of electronic ankle bracelets in cases of serious threat. Since the introduction of the "Spanish model" in 2009, no woman who participated in the program has been killed in the first ten years. Around 95 percent of the women protected by the "Spanish model" stated that their sense of security improved through the device.
Several federal states, including Saxony and Hesse, have already adopted the "Spanish model" for protection purposes. The SPD aims to introduce a nationwide regulation modeled after Spain's approach, which involves the use of ankle bracelets for offenders. However, specific details about the current legislative stage or implementation timeline for this measure are not yet available.
Germany has also committed significant funding to enhance victim safety and support services, suggesting a broader commitment to addressing domestic violence issues. The current status of proposed legislation indicates that Germany is actively taking steps to address domestic violence, aligning with international trends where such technologies are being increasingly used to enhance victim protection.
It's important to note that the dark figure for violence by partners is particularly high, with only an estimated ten percent of cases being reported. The current security report estimates this dark figure, highlighting the need for measures to encourage more victims to come forward and report incidents.
The SPD plans to discuss the legislative amendment together after the summer break with the aim of implementing it this year. The proposed measures, if passed, could significantly improve the safety of victims of domestic violence in Germany.
[1] Source for funding commitment [2] Source for international trends [3] Source for Spain's success with the "Spanish model"
- In accordance with the SPD's proposal for comprehensive safety measures, the community policy might include an employment policy that advocates for improved support services for victims of domestic violence.
- To further address the growing concern of domestic violence, the health-and-wellness sector could play a significant role by offering programs designed to educate the public about the correlation between violence and mental health, particularly in the context of womens-health.
- In light of rising incidents of domestic violence by relatives, the government could revisit their employment policy to ensure stricter background checks and intervention programs for potential offenders, as part of the general-news agenda on crime and justice.
