More than 150 domestic abuse offenders fitted with GPS tags in London have been recalled to prison for breaching exclusion zones, under a new pilot launched to reduce re-offending.
They were among 232 recently released perpetrators who flouted licence conditions under a £233 million investment by mayor Sir Sadiq Khan to tackle violence against women and girls.
City Hall says the scheme has cut re-offending by 45 per cent and 63 per cent of them are less likely to be charged with violent offences.
GPS tagging was used 699 times on abusers in London and works by sharing their location with probation and police to ensure strict conditions are being followed.
This can include “exclusion zones” covering the address of a victim and will be used as evidence if they breach restraining orders.
Around 154 were recalled because GPS data detected non-compliance.
Sir Sadiq said tagging “puts the onus of behaviour change on perpetrators, not survivors or victims of domestic abuse”.
Official figures show the city’s homicide rate is at a 22-year low, and there’s been an 18 per cent reduction in knife crime in the second quarter of 2025.
However, analysis by the Standard of London’s 80 murder victims since January 1, reveals 24 were killed as a result of domestic-related violence, compared to about 15 last year.
The mayor added: “I’m determined to tackle violence against women and girls in all its forms.
“I’m pleased that my innovative GPS tagging scheme has been proven to protect women and girls from the perpetrators of domestic abuse and ensure they change their behaviour, not victims and survivors.
“Results released today show the programme drastically cut the rate of reoffending.
“We continue to lead the way on the use of electronic monitoring to ensure that offenders comply with their sentences and that victims are protected - and the success of this initiative has now led to a national roll out.
“This enforcement action is happening alongside my work to halt the spread of misogynistic attitudes is society and schools and record investment to support the police to go after the most violent perpetrators.
“There is no place for domestic abuse anywhere in London and as Mayor I’ll continue to do all I can to protect women and girls, through enforcement and education to build a fairer and safer London for everyone.”
The GPS tagging knife crime programme was extended last year to also include stalking offenders.
To date, over 2,150 knife crime and stalkers have been tagged as they return to London from prison.
Claire Waxman OBE, London’s independent victims’ commissioner, said: “The Mayor’s GPS tagging scheme is protecting victims and holding domestic abuse perpetrators to account.
“By placing the responsibility for behaviour change squarely on offenders, we are shifting the burden away from survivors and ensuring that it’s perpetrators who are accountable and need to change, not the victims.
“The results show how technology can play an important role in delivering justice and safety.”
