Thousands of offenders not wearing electronic tags, report says

A significant story is unfolding on the international scene. Thousands of offenders not wearing electronic tags, report saysBySima KotechaSenior UK correspondentPublished15 minutes agoAlmost 9,000 people in England and Wales required to have an electronic monitoring tag do not have one, a report by the National Audit Office (NAO) has found. They are likely to include violent offenders and prisoners released from jail who need to be checked on. The NAO said, as of March 2026, prison authorities were reviewing around 8,900 cases of individuals recorded as having an active monitoring order but no tag.

However, the Ministry of Justice has disputed the figure, saying its own review puts the number of unmonitored individuals at 5,450. It said the NAO figure referred to the total number of cases they are checking to see if they need monitoring. The NAO called the current system "inefficient".

The Details

Electronic monitoring, also known as tagging, is used in England and Wales as a way of monitoring curfews and conditions of a court or prison order. There are three types: Curfew tags, location tags, and alcohol tags. A total of 28,700 people were recorded as being tagged in England and Wales as of March 2026.

The NAO said some of the 8,900 cases would include people who were registered as being tagged by mistake. But it also said the real number of those slipping through the system could be "significant". Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Earlier this year, the Ministry of Justice announced plans to significantly expand electronic monitoringPeople can be identified as being "unmonitored" for a number of reasons.

These can include errors in the system, refusal to wear a tag, a delay in the fitting of the tag, or an arrest where the tag is removed. But it can also include people who haven't been tagged when they should have been. Responding to the NAO's report, the Ministry of Justice said: "Public protection is our priority, which is why we're investing £100m in electronic monitoring, tagging offenders before release for the first time and strengthening victim protections via new alert systems – all of which will help cut the number of unmonitored offenders.

What Experts Say

"The National Audit Office argues the current monitoring system is not fit for purpose. "Electronic monitoring is central to managing pressures on prisons, but it is not working effectively, creating risks to public protection," NAO chief Gareth Davies said. "Improvements are required to ensure that those who should be monitored are monitored and that breaches are responded to effectively," he added.

The report also says police and probation staff often lack information or capacity to respond quickly to breaches. Some prisoners released early without being tagged Published19 September 2024Thousands of probation appointments missed, figures show Published19 MarchPeople tagged are placed under strict conditions as part of their punishment. This can include having to remain in a specific area or sticking to a curfew.

The story has become one of the most prominent items on the global agenda.