Malta’s new electronic monitoring system is set to provide more security for victims of domestic violence, TheJournal.mt is informed.

Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri will be launching the new electronic monitoring system tomorrow following months of consultation.

In the current situation, perpetrators of domestic violence may be given a court order that precludes them from visiting a specific locality, for instance the place where the victim resides. However, its enforcement leaves much to be desired as there is no system in place that ensures constant monitoring of the perpetrators’ whereabouts.

TheJournal.mt is informed that with the electronic monitoring reform, perpetrators will be constantly tracked as electronic tagging provides 24/7 updates on their movements. Should the regulations stipulated by Court Order be breached, the police will be immediately alerted, and the person will be subject to arrest.

Perpetrators will be constantly tracked as electronic tagging provides 24/7 updates on their movements.

This will provide victims of domestic violence with the security they need.

The Government had issued a White Paper back in May, aiming to establish a more modernised legal and corrective system.

Electronic monitoring is one of the systems used in a number of European countries, including Belgium, Germany, The Netherlands, England, Scotland and Wales. It has been proven that such systems result in the reduction of re-offending, and therefore a safer society and the better re-integration of previous offenders.

In 2019, the Council of Europe encouraged Member States to provide and improve the supervision of non-custodial sanctions.

The new system is expected to apply to offences that do not carry a heavy prison sentence.