Thousands of offenders not wearing electronic tags, report says
Summary
Nearly 9,000 people in England and Wales who are supposed to wear electronic monitoring tags do not have them, according to a report from the National Audit Office (NAO). The Ministry of Justice says its own count is lower, at about 5,450, and both groups agree that the system needs improvement to better protect the public.Key Facts
- Around 8,900 cases show individuals required to wear electronic tags but are not actually tagged, according to the NAO.
- The Ministry of Justice estimates a lower number of untagged offenders at 5,450.
- Electronic monitoring tags are used to enforce curfews or conditions in court and prison orders.
- There are three types of electronic tags: curfew tags, location tags, and alcohol tags.
- A total of 28,700 people were recorded as tagged as of March 2026.
- Reasons for missing tags include system errors, refusal to wear a tag, delays in fitting, or tag removal during arrest.
- The government is investing £100 million to expand and improve electronic monitoring under the Sentencing Act 2026.
- Probation officers report being overworked and worried about managing more offenders released early from prison with monitoring requirements.
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