Met police to prioritise tag breaches posing a public risk
The Metropolitan Police is piloting a policy to take action on fewer breaches of tagging conditions, amid pressure from the early release of prisoners. Officers are still expected to review breach alerts, but the pilot prioritises cases where someone is considered a risk to the public, raising questions about how conditions are monitored and enforced.
The force is expected to reduce enforcement of tag breaches by more than 15 per cent and says officers are dealing with over 100 breaches a day. More than 4,500 prisoners are expected to qualify for early release over ten months, with some eligible after serving half their sentence rather than two-thirds. The article also reports that around 100 released prisoners were given tents after probation services struggled to find accommodation.
In short
- Met pilot prioritises tag breaches involving a public risk.
- Officers are handling more than 100 breach alerts a day.
- Around 100 released prisoners reportedly received tents.
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The case for
Prioritising breaches that indicate a risk to the public could help officers focus limited time on cases where intervention may prevent serious harm, while still reviewing alerts. With more than 100 breaches a day and many prisoners being released early, concentrating enforcement may be a practical way to manage pressure on police and probation services.
The case against
Reducing enforcement could weaken confidence that tagging conditions are meaningful and leave some breaches without a timely response, even when their risk is not immediately apparent. Given the scale of early releases and reported difficulties finding accommodation, critics may argue that monitoring and support need strengthening so that public safety does not depend on a narrow assessment of risk.
Explained simply
Electronic tags are used to monitor people released from prison or serving sentences in the community. They can record a person’s location or alert authorities if they break conditions, such as staying away from a place or observing a curfew.
The Metropolitan Police is responsible for responding to alerts in London, while probation services supervise many people released from prison and help manage their return to the community. The number of people eligible for early release has put pressure on these services, including finding suitable accommodation.
How breaches are handled matters because conditions are intended to help manage risks to the public and support supervision after release. Decisions about which alerts need a response involve balancing those aims with the capacity of police and probation services.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Met Police won’t enforce breaches of some tag conditions as it struggles to cope with early release scheme”.