Delays in fitting electronic tags putting victims at risk, report finds
The reports says some criminals are waiting up to five months to be fitted with an electronic tag.
By BBC News
Delays in fitting electronic tags are putting victims at risk in England and Wales, according to a new report from His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Probation.
The BBC report says some offenders are waiting up to five months to be fitted with a tag, and that only 55% of GPS and radio frequency tags were fitted on time. It also says 60% of alcohol monitoring tags were fitted promptly.
The report says the delays have led to repeated breaches of court and prison orders, with one in 10 people waiting five months past the required time to be tagged. It adds that some of the delay was down to individuals not making themselves available.
Victims’ Commissioner Claire Waxman said victims needed to know immediately if tagging was delayed, warning that it could give a false sense of security. She also called for a robust response to breaches.
The BBC report does not give a Cheshire location or mention a specific local business, venue, council or police force, so the story can only be reported in broad terms.