People spray sparkling wine over a man who walked out of Nottingham Prison on early release scheme (Image: Tom Maddick/SWNS)
Convicted burglars and thieves are less likely to commit more crimes if they are being electronically monitored, a study has found. Reoffending rates fell from 33% to 26% if criminals were tagged after leaving prison, research by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) revealed.
It comes as separate figures revealed a record 23,977 criminals are being observed while living in communities across the country. This includes 4,261 wearing alcohol monitors. But the number of foreign criminals, immigration offenders and failed asylum seekers being electronically tagged has fallen.
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It is the first time the annual total has fallen since 2018.
Prisons minister Lord Timpson said: “The evidence is clear that tagging works, acting as a constant reminder to thieves and burglars that we are watching their every move and will know if they reoffend.
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“We are increasing the use of tagging as part of our Plan for Change to toughen punishment, prevent crime and make our streets safer.”
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Criminals being monitored were less likely to commit violent crimes, weapons offences or robbery, the MoJ research revealed.
But they were more likely to be caught for drugs offences or motoring crimes.
And reoffending rates for theft were consistent, at 39%, the study reveals.
Alan, an offender who is currently on a GPS tag, said: “The second that tag went on my ankle, I had that feeling that someone was watching me every second of the day.
“It let me get on with my life knowing if I fell back into my old habits, I could be back in a jail cell.”
Justice chiefs also believe police were able to rule out more suspects from their investigations because the GPS tags were monitoring their locations.
This allowed officers to focus on other potential criminals.
The MoJ said officers did not carry out 16,000 “unnecessary” arrests over three years.
The study found: “Police officers’ largely positive view of the project was partly a consequence of being able to dismiss potential suspects from criminal investigations more easily due to the crime mapping of location-monitored individuals.
“It therefore follows that there could have been fewer arrests in the participating police forces than would otherwise have been the case as a result of the project.”
Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood secured ￡700million in funding from Chancellor Rachel Reeves for a mass expansion of tagging devices.
This is part of the Government’s plan to prevent the prison system from collapsing.
Ministry of Justice figures published on Thursday show some 23,977 offenders were being monitored.
This includes over 12,000 people having their location monitored and 4,261 being checked for alcohol.
Statistics show offenders wearing alcohol tags, which monitor whether or not they are drinking, stay sober for 97% of the days they are tagged.
But the number of immigration offenders being monitored has fallen.
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Some 4,008 foreign criminals, failed asylum seekers or visa overstayers were subject to GPS monitoring.
This is down from 4,446 in June 2024.
It is also the first time since 2018 that the number of immigration offenders being monitored has fallen.
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