Officer in the northern region advocates for leg irons to combat female murders
Hollerin' for High-Tech on the Streets of Osnabrück
The newly appointed police president of Osnabrück, Friedo de Vries, is rallying for expedited implementation of electronic ankle bracelets for aggressive offenders in Lower Saxony, aiming to combat femicides. "It's high time we stepped up our game regarding these heinous acts," de Vries asserted in a discussion with the "Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung" on Saturday. "The ankle bracelet is a potential game-changer in our efforts to thwart violence against women," he continued, hinting at taking lives in the crossfire.
Violence against women permeates all walks of life, de Vries noted. "The issue creeps up everywhere, even among the younguns'," he underscored.
De Vries gestured towards the so-called Spanish model, where the offender dons an ankle bracelet, and the protected victim carries a GPS unit. Should the offender violate the set boundary, the authorities are alerted. This model has already seen the light of day in Saxony and Hesse. Hamburg’s CDU stalwart echoes the call for this approach within Hanseatic walls.
Daniela Behrens, Lower Saxony's Minister of the Interior, confirmed the electronic ankle bracelet would be introduced under the reform of the Lower Saxony Police and Public Order Act (NPOG).
Femicides, brutal killings of women based on their gender, seem to be making headlines again in Lower Saxony, with three women losing their lives in one week in May. Horrific acts of arson, car attacks, and parking lot stabbings led to the detention of their partners or former partners, all charged with murder.
You might also be swayed by the question: Ankle bracelet for stalkers: Are we protecting the women of Hamburg sufficiently?
De Vries ascended his throne as police president on June 1. Prior to the end of April, he served as president of the state criminal police office since 2018. (dpa)
The efficacy and implementation of electronic ankle bracelets for aggressive offenders in Germany, particularly when staving off femicides, remain up for debate. The concept has been applied in other regions, with concerns about their effectiveness due to offenders trying to bypass the system. However, electronic monitoring is seen as a valuable asset in ensuring public safety and reducing recidivism, especially in cases of domestic violence. The key to success lies in robust enforcement, technological dependability, and the integration of these measures with existing legal and social support mechanisms.
In the efforts to combat feminicides, de Vries suggests implementing the electronic ankle bracelet system, similar to the one used in the Spanish model, aiming to enhance women's health and safety in Lower Saxony. Despite concerns about its effectiveness, the ankle bracelet can be a valuable tool in reducing recidivism, especially in cases of domestic violence. The success of this approach hinges on robust enforcement, technological dependability, and the integration of these measures with existing social support systems, as also advocated within the city of Hamburg.
The horrific femicides in Lower Saxony, which made headlines in May, highlight the urgent need for improved health-and-wellness measures, particularly for women. These brutal acts underscore the necessity of implementing science-based solutions to address violence against women. As general-news stories continue to reveal similar tragic occurrences, it becomes necessary to scrutinize the crime-and-justice landscape, formulating effective strategies to ensure the well-being and safety of all citizens, especially women.
