By Lisa Johnson, The Appleton Times
In the quiet villages of Wiltshire, England, families of murder victims have long navigated a precarious existence, confined to narrow safety zones while their loved ones' killers roam nearby. But a proposed overhaul to the justice system could soon shift that burden, confining serious offenders to designated areas under constant electronic surveillance. The Sentencing Bill 2025, currently under parliamentary review, introduces 'restriction zones' for violent and sexual criminals upon their release, a change spurred by relentless campaigning from affected families.
Emma King knows this fear all too well. Her sister, Julie Butcher, was murdered by her ex-husband, Richard Butcher, in 2005. Butcher was sentenced to 13 years in prison and released in 2020, only to return to Chiseldon, near Swindon in Wiltshire—the same area where King lived with her family. 'I pretty much had a circle around my house for safety,' King recounted in a recent interview. 'We were scared and fearful for the children. All I kept on thinking is 'I can't live like this'. It was horrific.'
King's ordeal highlights the limitations of current protections. Upon Butcher's release, parole officers informed her that he had a 'human right' to return to his hometown, leaving her feeling that the killer's needs trumped her own security. Initially, exclusion zones were minuscule—mere feet around homes, workplaces, and schools. King and her family even began saving money in anticipation of a forced relocation. 'We shouldn't be the ones having to live elsewhere and trying to rebuild back our lives, yet again,' she said.
Eventually, authorities expanded Butcher's exclusion zone to 2.5 miles (4 kilometers), but King said it still fell short of providing true peace. The constant dread of an accidental encounter lingered, prompting her to join forces with other victims' families in a campaign for stronger measures. When the government announced the restriction zones in August, King felt a profound relief. 'Seeing the email drop to say that this is going be looked at in Parliament really hit home, and it felt like my fight was over,' she added.
The new legislation aims to invert the current system, where victims often bear the weight of avoidance. Under existing rules, serious sexual and violent offenders can be barred from entering areas where their victims reside, but enforcement relies heavily on the victims' compliance. The proposed restriction zones, crafted with input from probation officers and victims, would instead limit the offenders' movements to tailored geographic areas. Released prisoners would be fitted with GPS tags for real-time monitoring, with any violation potentially leading to immediate recall to custody.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice emphasized the victim-centered approach. 'We must protect victims, which is why new restriction zones will curb the freedoms of the most serious violent and sexual offenders and give victims the peace of mind they deserve,' the spokesperson said. This shift, supporters argue, restores balance by prioritizing survivor safety over the perpetrators' mobility.
Carole Gould, another key figure in the campaign, shares a similarly harrowing story. Her 17-year-old daughter, Ellie Gould, was brutally murdered in May 2019 at her home in Calne, Wiltshire, by her ex-boyfriend, Thomas Griffiths. The couple's three-month relationship had ended, but Griffiths, then 17, skipped school, drove to Ellie's house, and launched a frenzied attack. He first attempted to strangle her before grabbing a kitchen knife and stabbing her 13 times in the neck and face. Griffiths pleaded guilty to murder and received a life sentence with a minimum term of 12 and a half years, making him eligible for parole in May 2032.
For Gould, the passage of time has been agonizingly uneven. While Griffiths serves his sentence, she has spent the last six years advocating for better protections. 'His time served has gone by 'too fast',' she said, contrasting it with her ongoing struggle. The proximity of Griffiths's parents, who still live just a few miles away in Wiltshire, adds to the anxiety. 'The thought of him getting out is huge anyway, but the thought of him then also being allowed to come back into Wiltshire, it's like a double blow,' Gould explained.
The fear of reintegration has forced many families into impossible choices. Gould described the potential return of Griffiths as a 'double blow' that could force her family to flee the area they call home. 'It would be like he's won again. It would mean that we would have to move away, because the thought of bumping into him would just be too traumatising,' she said. The restriction zones offer a countermeasure, preventing such scenarios and allowing victims to remain in their communities if they choose.
Gould's relief at the legislative progress is palpable. 'It's like a cloud lifted off our shoulders,' she said of the announcement. 'It means we can stay in the area if we chose to and we aren't being forced to leave.' Her campaign, alongside King's, has been instrumental in pushing the Sentencing Bill forward, drawing attention to the emotional and practical toll on survivors.
The bill's development comes amid broader discussions on sentencing and rehabilitation in the UK. Introduced as part of efforts to modernize the criminal justice system, it addresses criticisms that current parole conditions inadequately safeguard the public, particularly victims. Probation services have long managed such cases, but advocates argue that technology like GPS tagging—already used in some monitoring programs—could enhance effectiveness without unduly burdening taxpayers.
While the proposal has garnered support from victims' groups, it also raises questions about implementation. Details on how zones will be defined, the duration of tagging, and appeals processes remain under debate in Parliament. The Ministry of Justice has not specified a timeline for enactment, but with the bill in active consideration, passage could come within the next legislative session.
Stories like those of King and Gould underscore a systemic issue affecting hundreds of families annually. In England and Wales alone, thousands of serious offenders are released each year, many with conditions that test the limits of victim protections. The campaign for restriction zones gained momentum through media coverage and parliamentary inquiries, including testimonies from survivors who detailed the psychological strain of living in fear.
Looking ahead, the legislation could set a precedent for how the justice system balances offender rights with public safety. If enacted, it would mark a significant victory for victims' advocates, potentially reducing the incidence of 'victim displacement'—where survivors are compelled to uproot their lives. As Parliament deliberates, families like King's and Gould's wait hopefully, their voices echoing the call for a fairer framework.
For now, the announcement of these zones provides a measure of solace in Wiltshire's close-knit communities. It signals a recognition that the shadows cast by violent crime should not forever eclipse the lives of those left behind. As one campaigner put it, it feels like 'a small victory' in an otherwise protracted battle for justice.