Plans to restrict where violent and sexual offenders can go
Presently, serious sexual and violent offenders can be ordered upon release not to enter the area where their victim lives - but outside of these exclusions, there is a risk the two could encounter one another.Under the government's plans, the onus would shift to confining the offender to specific areas tailored to them and developed in consultation with the victim, with the possibility of time in prison for those who breach restrictions.The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) says this would allow victims to travel free of worry about meeting their attacker.Victims Minister Alex Davies-Jones said the fresh approach would "give them the peace of mind they deserve and rebuild their lives without fear".One domestic abuse victim, named Leanne, told PA news agency she was "ecstatic" about the move.She said, in her experience, there were "places where I was confronted" even when her abuser had restraining orders in place, and that if "I knew I could go to those places safely, happy days, I'm protected".The MoJ says increased tagging of released offenders and a greater reliance on monitoring technology will help ensure the restriction zones are adhered to.But one probation officer said the new zones would put more pressure on the service when it was already struggling to monitor the number of offenders in the community."It's like they just keep adding to our workload without actually telling us they're going to be doing that," they said. "And we just get more stressed and put under pressure. These zones will mean more monitoring and more responsibility for us in probation."Last year, the government began releasing thousands of inmates early to ease overcrowding.While this prevented the UK's prisons running out of spaces, it was criticised for shifting further pressure on to the probation service and police forces. Meanwhile, some prisoners were released without having monitoring tags fitted.The MoJ says at least 1,300 new trainee probation officers will be recruited into the service next year to increase its monitoring capacity.But probation staff have told the BBC it can take between 12 and 24 months to properly train an officer.Sources say the plans will be attached to the sentencing bill likely to be introduced to Parliament next month. This bill will probably also seek to reduce the minimum amount of time less serious offenders have to serve to a third of their sentence, as part of efforts to ease prison overcrowding.These proposals were criticised by victims' charities and probation staff when announced in May.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Telegraph
17 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Here's proof that Labour's private school tax raid was never about money
As sure as night follows day, when a new tax is introduced, people will do their very best to avoid it. This is what has happened with Labour's imposition of VAT at 20pc on school fees in January. The Telegraph recently revealed that Britain's top 50 independent schools held £515m in advance fees last year, up from £121m in 2023. This potentially avoids more than £100m in VAT. There are over 2,600 independent schools in the UK, of which 1,423 are members of the Independent Schools Council (ISC). In January, 582,477 pupils attended independent schools in England. The Telegraph figures thus cover just 2pc of all fee-paying establishments.
Daily Mail
17 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Landlord database: How controversial scheme will work - and what buy-to-let owners and tenants need to know
Landlords may soon need to sign up to a national database that will be visible to councils and tenants, if a controversial piece of legislation goes through. The rental sector is on the cusp of the biggest shake-up to date when the Renters Rights Bill becomes law either later this year or early in 2026. One of its key reforms is a national private rented sector database that will require every landlord in England to register and list details of every property they let. The aim is to give local authorities and tenants a single source of information about who owns and manages each rental property. Landlords who fail to register will be unable to legally let their properties and face fines for not doing so. And they could even be subject to a landlord ombudsman, which will handle complaints from tenants and could force them to pay compensation. While it is possible this element of the bill could be removed or watered down before it passes into law, some landlords are concerned about the change - with some worried it will become a 'Trustpilot-style' review website. 'Once the PRS database goes live, enforcement will be swift and visible,' says Allison Thompson, national lettings managing director at Leaders. 'Tenants will be able to search the database to check whether a landlord is properly registered and whether they have received any fines or penalties. 'Being proactive now will reduce the risk of fines and help landlords maintain a positive reputation in the market.' The bill will also create a single landlord ombudsman that all private landlords will also need to join. 'The ombudsman will provide an independent route to resolve complaints about landlord service and property standards,' adds Thompson. 'All landlords, even those managing properties themselves, must join the ombudsman, which will have the power to order landlords to apologise, provide information, take remedial action, or pay compensation. 'Landlords who fail to comply with the ombudsman's decisions could face enforcement action, including fines and potential removal from the database.' How will the landlord database work? Landlords will be required to provide their name, contact details and the address of every property they let. Registration is expected to be renewed periodically, with fees applying each time. Local authorities will be able to issue civil penalties for failure to register while renters will be able to check if their landlord is legally registered. 'Designed properly, the database should make it easy for the vast majority of compliant landlords to demonstrate to tenants and prospective tenants that their properties meet all required standards,' says Chris Norris, chief policy officer at the National Residential Landlords Association. 'As a minimum, gas and electricity safety certificates should be fully digitised so they can be easily uploaded onto the database, alongside existing Energy Performance Certificates. 'The database should also include a signed declaration by a landlord which confirms that a property meets the requirements of the planned decent homes standard for the sector.' What will happen to landlords who don't comply? For those who fail to register, local authorities will have the power to issue civil penalties of up to £7,000 for a first offence and up to £40,000 for the most serious or repeated breaches. They will also be able to prevent unregistered landlords from legally letting their properties. Will it really be like Trustpilot? A database will raise some fears among landlords that they could find their reputations and properties made public, with tenants able to rank them in a similar way to Trustpilot where customers rate companies using a star system. 'It won't be a review site in the traditional sense and tenants won't be posting ratings - but in many ways, the database will likely have similar consequences,' says Sián Hemming-Metcalfe, operations director at property management software company Inventory Base. 'If you're fined or found to have breached legislation or are non-compliant, that information could be made searchable and then visible to prospective tenants. 'It becomes a public trust marker. Reputation will increasingly rest on a landlord's ability to stay compliant and proactive.' Chris Norris, chief policy officer at the National Residential Landlords Association also does not envisage the database allowing for ratings or reviews, though. He says: 'Whilst the Government has not yet outlined what it believes should be on the database, or the timeframes for its implementation, we do not anticipate it becoming a Trustpilot-style review site.' Will there also be a database for renters? The introduction of a landlord database may lead some landlords to ask why tenants won't be subject to the same type of scrutiny. After all, for every bad landlord, there are also reports of bad tenants who fail to look after properties or pay the rent. Hemming-Metcalfe says: 'It's understandable that landlords may feel the system is one-sided, especially when there's no formal database for tenants - who can be equally rogue when it comes to their conduct in rental properties. 'But in reality, landlords already have access to credit checks, references, and legal recourse. 'What we're seeing here is a rebalancing of the sector - one that gives tenants more visibility and landlords more responsibility. 'Fairness comes through transparency on both sides, so it could be seen as an opportunity to show you are not only a good landlord, but a fair and compliant one.' When will it come into force? The Renters Rights Bill is likely to come into force later this year or in early 2026. The advice, however, is to get prepared for the new rules now. 'While a definitive start date is still to be confirmed, the imminent introduction of the Renter's Rights Bill means landlords shouldn't wait for the legislation to come into force,' adds Hemming-Metcalfe. 'The database will likely be rolled out soon after, and enforcement is expected to be swift. 'As a landlord, now is the time to get your property records in order and ensure your processes are watertight.' How to find a new mortgage Borrowers who need a mortgage because their current fixed rate deal is ending, or they are buying a home, should explore their options as soon as possible. Buy-to-let landlords should also act as soon as they can. Quick mortgage finder links with This is Money's partner L&C > Mortgage rates calculator > Find the right mortgage for you What if I need to remortgage? Borrowers should compare rates, speak to a mortgage broker and be prepared to act. Homeowners can lock in to a new deal six to nine months in advance, often with no obligation to take it. Most mortgage deals allow fees to be added to the loan and only be charged when it is taken out. This means borrowers can secure a rate without paying expensive arrangement fees. Keep in mind that by doing this and not clearing the fee on completion, interest will be paid on the fee amount over the entire term of the loan, so this may not be the best option for everyone. What if I am buying a home? Those with home purchases agreed should also aim to secure rates as soon as possible, so they know exactly what their monthly payments will be. Buyers should avoid overstretching and be aware that house prices may fall, as higher mortgage rates limit people's borrowing ability and buying power. What about buy-to-let landlords Buy-to-let landlords with interest-only mortgages will see a greater jump in monthly costs than homeowners on residential mortgages. This makes remortgaging in plenty of time essential and our partner L&C can help with buy-to-let mortgages too. How to compare mortgage costs The best way to compare mortgage costs and find the right deal for you is to speak to a broker. This is Money has a long-standing partnership with fee-free broker L&C, to provide you with fee-free expert mortgage advice. Interested in seeing today's best mortgage rates? Use This is Money and L&Cs best mortgage rates calculator to show deals matching your home value, mortgage size, term and fixed rate needs. If you're ready to find your next mortgage, why not use L&C's online Mortgage Finder. It will search 1,000's of deals from more than 90 different lenders to discover the best deal for you. > Find your best mortgage deal with This is Money and L&C Be aware that rates can change quickly, however, and so if you need a mortgage or want to compare rates, speak to L&C as soon as possible, so they can help you find the right mortgage for you.
Daily Mail
17 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Private school parents who paid fees in advance to face fresh tax grab from HMRC
Parents with pupils in private school who pre-paid fees in advance of January's VAT hike are facing a fresh attack from the taxman. HM Revenue and Customs is set to probe so-called advance-fee schemes which swathes of parents used in a bid to avoid larger fees, it has emerged. Advance fee or payment schemes have been in used in private schools for years but they began to surge in popularity as early as December, 2023. They allow parents of students at private schools to pay upfront for tuition fees for future school years, often with a discount. The pre-paid funds act like a deposit and are used to cover most of the fees each year, instead of locking in a price. VAT had never before been charged on private school payments but Labour's manifesto revealed it would scrap the exemption for private schools, which saw them free of the 20 per cent tax. This came into force in January of this year in a bid to bolster the Treasury's dwindling coffers. Droves of families paid advanced fees for future school years before the change in January, hoping to avoid the VAT hike of up to 20 per cent. Parents with pupils at the top 50 private schools in the country pre-paid fees to the tune of £515million last a year – up from £121million the year before. This means that as much as £103million in tax may have been avoided in these top 50 schools alone. However, their efforts may have been in vain as the tax office prepares a fresh assault on these prepayments to ensure all private schools pay their 'fair share'. Official sources said HMRC will now 'carefully scrutinise' prepayments, the Telegraph reports. These fees paid in advance may still be liable for VAT because of the way the schools structured the schemes. The taxman is likely to target schools that use the advance fees like a deposit or those quickly set up such a scheme ahead of the VAT hike. Investigations could take several years to complete. Tax experts have warned VAT applies to the year fees are invoiced so there's a chance the prepayments didn't work in the way parents had hoped. It means parents who used these pre-paid fee schemes to mitigate the impact of the VAT hike could be liable for unpaid VAT. It could also not only spark lengthy legal battles between the tax office and private schools, but also between parents and schools over who is liable for the potential tax bill. Chancellor Rachel Reeves attempted to curb such schemes by applying VAT to pre-paid fees made from July 29 last year. But parents had already funnelled millions of pounds into the schemes to avoid the punitive tax measures. Alex Pugh, financial planner at wealth manager Saltus, said that many parents started to make strategic decisions including advance fee payments back in December 2023. He said: 'However, it seems that the efficacy of these schemes is now in doubt, as VAT may still be due on these prepayments. Two in five parents will make a change to their child's private education before term starts in September. 'As this number may well rise if it transpires that those who thought they'd avoided the VAT through pre-payments are still liable, professional advice is key. 'Should HMRC successfully unravel advance fee schemes, the financial pressures facing all private schools will be exacerbated. 'In an attempt to avoid the VAT liability parents may claim they were misled about the tax benefits of advance schemes, potentially sparking long-running, costly legal battles with schools. 'Such disputes could result in the schools themselves ultimately being liable. The full impact of this tax change cannot be avoided.' A government spokesman said: 'The Office for Budget Responsibility has already factored in the increased use of pre-payment schemes in its revenue forecasts. 'Removing tax breaks for private schools is expected to raise £1.8billion a year by 2029/30. 'This funding will help us recruit 6,500 new teachers and improve standards in state schools, which educate 94 per cent of children.'
