Mayor’s GPS tagging of domestic abuse offenders cuts reoffending and protects victims

New analysis of the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan’s innovative GPS tagging scheme shows it drastically cut reoffending rates for high risk domestic abuse perpetrators.

Fresh analysis released today shows that those released from prison and fitted with the Mayor’s GPS tags were 45 per cent less likely to be charged with an offence in the 12 months after being fitted with a tag compared to the 12 months before being tagged, a reduction which increases to 63 per cent for violent offences^[1].

The Mayor’s GPS tagging was used nearly 700 (699) times in London for high risk domestic abuse offenders after the scheme was set up through funding from the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) in 2021. 99 per cent of all those tagged were men.

This innovative scheme is part of the Mayor’s commitment to making London safer for everyone with homicides at their lowest in over a decade^[2], an 18% reduction in knife crime in the second quarter of 2025/26, compared to the same time last year^[3] and latest ONS stats showing Londoners are less likely to be a victim of a violence with injury offence than across the rest of England and Wales^[4].

The scheme worked to change the behaviour of perpetrators of abuse, acting as a deterrent and ensuring enforcement action is taken if offenders break the conditions of their release. Crucially, it puts the onus of behaviour change on perpetrators, not survivors or victims of domestic abuse.

Analysis also shows a 50 per cent reduction in the number of charges for those who are tagged over 24 months and enforcement was also significantly strengthened, with a total of 232 offenders recalled back to prison for non-compliance with licence conditions. Of these 232 recalls, analysis shows that over two thirds (154) involved the use of GPS data to detect non-compliance.

The GPS tagging programme forms part of the Mayor’s public health approach to tackling violence against women and girls in London and is part of Sadiq’s record £233 million investment to tackle VAWG in all its forms.

It works by domestic abuse offenders being fitted with tags which will monitor their location, enabling probation services and the police to ensure offenders are following the conditions of their release, and take action if they breach these conditions or commit a criminal offence.

This can include conditions such as not entering ‘exclusion zones’ which could cover the address of a victim and ensuring that offenders are arrested if they breach restraining orders or licence conditions, as well as providing GPS location data that can be used to verify a victim’s account of any re-offending behaviour.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “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. 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.”

Sadiq continues to be tough on VAWG and tough on its complex causes, safeguarding women and girls who are disproportionately impacted by domestic violence offending and taking action to stop the spread of toxic misogyny in our society. This includes delivering toolkits for all primary and secondary teachers to nurture healthy attitudes in the next generation of Londoners and investing in award-winning public awareness campaigns, to encourage men to step up and call out misogynistic behaviour among their friends.

The Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) has been at the forefront of the use of electronic monitoring and has invested £7.4 million in GPS innovation since 2017. Past successful schemes include targeting persistent and knife crime offenders which led to a 5 per cent reduction in reoffending.  

The GPS tagging knife crime programme was extended last year to also include stalking offenders. To date over 2,150 knife crime and stalking offenders have been tagged as they return to London from prison, continuing this work to protect victims and prevent reoffending.

The Victims' Commissioner for London, Claire Waxman OBE, 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.”