Aggressive Step Towards Women's Safety: Osnabrück's New Police Chief Hypes Up Ankle Monitors
Law enforcement leader advocates for implementation of ankle monitoring devices - Officer in charge advocates for ankle handcuffs in procedures.
Hey there! Let's dive into a hot topic that has the folks of Osnabrück buzzing – electronic ankle monitors for dudes causing trouble, specifically in the realm of violent actions against women. Friedo de Vries, the spanking new police chief of Osnabrück, is loud and clear about the need for these monitors to keep the peace.
"Enough is enough," de Vries barked in a sit-down with the Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung. "We need a wake-up call when it comes to these bloody actions. These monsters need to be held accountable, and ankle monitors are the new shot in the arm we need to keep women safe."
Did you catch that? He's talking about bloody homicides, homicides being the final act in a series of violent crimes directed at women due to their gender.
Now, it's important to note that this villainous behavior can be found all over the social ladder, from the sophisticated high-flyers to the scrappy street punks. "It ain't exclusive to any clique, this violence is a plague that's hit the youth hard," de Vries warned.
He looks beyond the local borders for solutions, taking a page out of Spain's crime-fighting playbook. If this scheme works, the perpetrator will don an ankle monitor, and the victim will carry a GPS unit. The moment the oppressor crosses paths with the victim, the cops will be notified. This tactic is already in practice in Saxony and Hesse.
But what about here in Lower Saxony? Daniela Behrens, our Minister of the Interior, has her eyes set on incorporating these monitors as part of the revamp of the Lower Saxony Police and Public Order Act (NPOG).
Remember those three grim incidents in Lower Saxony from May? Women murdered in the most heinous ways – set on fire, crushed by a car, or stabbed in a parking lot. In each instance, the partner or ex was arrested and chucked in the slammer for the deed.
Our new police chief seized his post on June 1. Until the end of April, he held the big seat at the state criminal police office since 2018.
Here's a heads-up: Ankle monitors are devices that track a person's movements. They can help enforce restraining orders, which in turn can potentially lessen the likelihood of future violence. However, their true effectiveness depends on the broader systemic support and enforcement mechanisms. For instance, in Serbia, there are concerns about the system's ability to spot and support victims appropriately, emphasizing the importance of comprehensive protective measures beyond mere technological gimmicks.
In Lower Saxony, localized data and studies are necessary to assess whether these monitors will be as effective as we'd like in this setting. Stay tuned for updates on this developments!
- Recognizing the need for change in community safety, particularly regarding women's health-and-wellness and mental health, the new police chief in Osnabrück is championing the use of ankle monitors, drawing inspiration from successful implementations in Spain.
- To tackle the rising issue of gender-based violence, the Lower Saxony Police and Public Order Act (NPOG) is being revamped, with a potential inclusion of science-backed solutions such as electronic ankle monitors, aimed at reducing future violent impacts on women's safety.
