The case in summary The police see that the use of ankle chains, or conversely violence alarms, works to protect women exposed to violence and want to use them more. Birgitte, who herself has been in a violent relationship, believes that anklets can save more women who are vulnerable to violence. Reverse violence alarm has been a measure for over 10 years, but has been little used. Of 232 cases where the police requested a reverse violence alarm, 127 were refused in court. Sør-Öst police district has not registered any violations of the restraining order in the cases where the perpetrator has been sentenced to a reverse violence alarm. The Minister of Justice warns that the police may already be able to impose ankle chains before Easter, which she believes will help victims of violence. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAi. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. – If I have thought that it could have been me? Yes, that’s what I come back to, everything I’ve experienced. I myself have experienced the fear of death, says Birgitte. She feels the bad feelings welling up in her after the partner murders that have happened in Norway recently. She can become nauseous and unfocused. – But maybe I get the most angry. I think that in some of the cases it could have been avoided if they had used the tools available, she says. She says that she herself has lived in a violent relationship for many years. Reverse violence alarm and help from the crisis center enabled Birgitte to take her life back. Photo: Lars Tore Endresen / news When she got the violence alarm, she still felt unsafe around the clock. She felt the dread that he might suddenly appear, and the responsibility to press fast enough if something were to happen. But when her ex-husband was sentenced to reverse violence alarm in 2019, life changed for Birgitte. – It made such a big difference in my life. I could lower my shoulders, be in my immediate environment where I had the crisis center, the support system, friends, family and leisure activities. Here I could be allowed to be safe and take my life back, she says. Read the response from Birgitte’s ex-husband at the bottom of the case. Prevents partner murder Reverse violence alarm has been a measure to protect victims of violence for over 10 years. Nevertheless, it has been little used. Of 232 cases in which the police requested a reverse violence alarm, 127 were refused in court, national figures show. What is reverse violence alarm? The convict wears an electronic leg brace. If convicts move within a geographical area to which the contact ban applies, an alarm is triggered. The arrangement is linked to a restraining order. The police are responsible for the scheme and administer it in collaboration with the Correctional Service. The scheme came into force on 1 February 2013. The measure is relevant where someone has been convicted of domestic violence or where the convicted person has previously breached a visiting or contact ban. Part of the government’s efforts against violence in close relationships. In December 2023, the Storting decided that the police can impose ankle chains. In January 2024, the Minister of Justice announced that the change in the law will be brought forward to before Easter. In the South-East police district, they started a project last year with the aim of getting more people convicted in court. Nevertheless, they find that many cases end up in court. The police are positive that they themselves will soon be able to impose ankle chains without going to court. – It is the protection measure with which we have the most success, says Siv Elise Kvamsdal, prosecuting attorney in the South-East police district. Police attorney in the South-East police district, Siv Elise Kvamsdal, sees that the reverse violence alarm is an effective measure to protect victims of violence. Photo: MAGNUS SKATVEDT IVERSEN / news – Is there a measure that ultimately prevents partner murder? – Yes, absolutely, she says. The Minister of Justice: – As soon as possible The Minister of Justice is now warning that the police may already be able to impose ankle chains before Easter. – Our ambition is for it to happen as soon as possible before Easter. The sooner, the better, but I can’t give a specific date, she says. Minister of Justice Emilie Enger Mehl (Sp). Photo: William Jobling / news Mehl believes this will help victims of violence. – I am very happy that this will be an opportunity for the police. It has not happened before, and it will provide better protection for victims of violence, she says. The police are positive about increased use of reverse violence alarms. – The Norwegian Police Directorate is now working furiously to map out what needs to be in place to ensure that the police will be equipped to handle the change in the law in a good way, writes section chief in the Norwegian Police Directorate, Kristin Elnæs, in an e-mail to news. Conditions must be met District judge in Oslo District Court, Ina Strømstad, thinks it is difficult to have a definite answer as to why more people are not sentenced to reverse violence alarm in court. Certain conditions must be met in order to sentence someone to a reverse violence alarm, she points out. Ina Strømstad, District Court Judge in Oslo District Court. Photo: Oslo district court – It is conceivable that there has been too little focus on this measure, both from the prosecution’s side and the courts, says Strømstad. She speaks on behalf of the judges’ media group. The courts welcome an increased focus on this, she adds. – Intervention measures Kristina Davidsen at Elden law firm represents Birgitte’s ex-husband. She says it has been a big burden for the man to have an ankle chain, and it has caused injuries and complications. – It was also burdensome because the alarm could go off, due to technical errors. The chain was taken off a little over a year ago, and he has put this behind him, says Davidsen. The reverse violence alarm is an interventional measure, she points out. – It places major limitations on the everyday life and life development of those who are sentenced to it, she says.
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The police will use reverse violence alarms more to protect women exposed to violence – news Vestfold and Telemark – Local news, TV and radio
