Full Breakdown
Tagging Delays Undermine Safety in England and Wales
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Findings on Tag Fitting Delays
A report by His Majesty's Inspectorate of Probation (HMIP) reveals that almost half of electronic monitoring tags intended to track offenders are not fitted within the required timeframe. Some individuals wait up to five months for a tag, and one in ten experience delays of that length, increasing the risk of repeated breaches of court and prison orders.
Scale of the Tagging Programme and Government Expansion
Since 2024, tag install rates have risen by nearly 50 %. The expansion follows the Sentencing Act 2026, which aims to ease prison pressures by releasing more prisoners early from October, most of whom will require tagging. Recruitment has added 2,300 trainee officers over the past two years and a further 1,300 are slated for this year.
Data on Compliance and Victim Risk
- 55 % of GPS and radio-frequency tags were fitted on time; 60 % of alcohol-monitoring tags met the deadline.
- A total of 27,847 people were under tagging orders in England and Wales as of June 2026.
- Violations were explored in only 46 % of relevant cases, indicating under-use of tag data.
- Victims’ Commissioner Claire Waxman OBE warned that delayed tagging gives a “false sense of security” for victims who need immediate notification of breaches.
Official Responses
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson emphasized that “public protection” remains the priority and highlighted the £100 million funding boost and increased installation rates. Claire Waxman OBE called for a “robust response” to breaches and expressed concern over the “overstretched” capacity of probation services to manage delayed tags.
Verbatim Quotes
- “There is a real danger that electronic monitoring creates a false sense of assurance if the technology is not matched by effective professional practice,” — Martin Jones CBE, HM Chief Inspector of Probation