Tagging troubles highlighted on TV spark concern

MINISTRY SAYS SITUATION HAS IMPROVED

- By STUART ARNOLD Local democracy reporter

THE Government says performance has improved after serious failures were highlighted in the electronic tagging of criminal offenders on Teesside, but it is still below acceptable levels.

A recent Channel 4 Dispatches documentary saw a journalist working undercover in the area having been employed with Government-appointed contractor Serco to fit tags. The programme revealed a backlog of visits to offenders, with high risk and violent criminals left unmonitored for up to two months, and when breaches were notified they were sometimes inadequately responded to by probation officers.

The equipment used was also not always reliable with some low quality tags being easily removed, while the journalist said she received no safety training before being sent out to offenders’ homes.

Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner Matt Storey said its findings were “troubling”, prompting him to write last month to Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood to seek reassurances and ask what actions were being taken.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) confirmed receipt of Mr Storey’s letter, although it had yet to formally respond.