Latvia introduces electronic monitoring for violent offenders / Article

Latvia has long had one of the highest rates of women killed by violence in the European Union (EU). The latest data from the European Union’s statistical office Eurostat shows that Latvia has the highest rate per 100,000 inhabitants.

In order to address this problem and better protect victims of violence, electronic monitoring will now be available for perpetrators. As emphasised by Andis Rinkevics, Head of the Prevention Management Office of the State Police’s Main Order Police Administration, electronic surveillance allows for preventive work, i.e. seeing and stopping a crime before it is committed.

The State Police held a press conference on Friday to demonstrate its technical and methodological readiness to launch electronic surveillance.

“Each party has its own devices. The perpetrator wears a bracelet around their ankle, which monitors their location and sends a signal to mobile tracking devices, which we, the State Police Resource Management Unit, can then see. One thing is to control access to a specific location, which is static and does not move, and another thing is to control access to a specific person who can be anywhere in Latvia or outside Latvia 24/7. Therefore, the involvement and cooperation of the victim is essential, because we cannot actually ensure the protection of a person if they do not carry their tracking device with them,” explained Rinkevics.

When the perpetrator approaches the victim, the victim receives a signal on their mobile device. The perpetrator does not receive any message. These devices can also be used to communicate with one or the other party.

Electronic monitoring will not be applied to all perpetrators. Each case will require a thorough assessment of the situation. If the suspect or accused person has been subject to any security measures – prohibition to approach a specific person or place; residence in a specific place; transfer to police custody or house arrest – continuous electronic monitoring may be applied for their supervision.

State Police Chief General Armands Ruks acknowledged that every year the police receive a large number of calls about domestic violence. For example, last year there were almost 10,200 cases. Moreover, many of these cases are not only very dangerous, but also involve several victims, including children.

“No one will be forced to wear this device, this bracelet. The subject must consent to the installation of this device. Well, if they do not agree, this also means, to a certain extent, that both the investigators and the investigating judge must decide and understand that there is no cooperation here, that this person is inclined to continue this [violent] activity, as it is intended for high-risk subjects of violence. So, those who repeatedly violate temporary protection orders, because the next step is justifiable – arrest, imprisonment,” said Ruks.

By the end of 2027, the government will have to evaluate the operation of the electronic surveillance system, its results and possibilities for expansion, as well as calculate the potential costs and report back to the Saeima.

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