Spanish courts and lawyers continue to debate the effectiveness of new electronic bracelets designed to protect women who have experienced abuse. Since the change of service provider in early 2024, the devices have been malfunctioning regularly, raising serious concerns among professionals working with such cases.
The country’s Prosecutor’s Office maintains that victims remained protected despite technical difficulties. However, a recent agency report highlighted two key issues: frequent bracelet malfunctions and the inability to access location data before February 2024. Authorities say the latter, which stemmed from the transition between operators, has now been resolved. However, the lack of historical information has hampered investigations into restraining order violations, sometimes resulting in closed cases or acquittals.
Nevertheless, the main concern remains—the reliability of the devices themselves. Lawyers and judges specializing in domestic violence cases note that the new bracelets often fail to function properly. During the procurement process, ministry representatives warned of possible complications with data transmission but praised the quality of the devices. In practice, however, the bracelets frequently send false alerts, sometimes registering impossible scenarios, such as no movement for several days, or, conversely, continuously disturbing women with unnecessary calls.
As a result, many victims feel unprotected and even request to have these devices removed. Some judges are now reluctant to assign electronic monitoring in particularly dangerous cases, opting instead for stricter measures such as pre-trial detention. In certain regions, such as Sevilla, it has been noted that the bracelets not only malfunction but can also be removed by the suspects themselves. In a recent case, police detained a man outside the victim’s home, even though the bracelet indicated he was two kilometers away.
Problems with the bracelets have affected not only the technical side but also the psychological well-being of women. Constant false alarms cause stress and a persistent sense of insecurity. Some even stop responding to alerts, making the system even less effective. As a result, despite assurances from authorities, trust in electronic bracelets among professionals and victims of violence has noticeably declined.
