Major Gaps Found in Electronic Monitoring System Across England and Wales

Thousands of offenders not wearing electronic – A significant number of individuals who should be wearing electronic monitoring devices are currently going without them, according to an investigation conducted by the National Audit Office. The watchdog discovered that nearly 9,000 people across England and Wales were supposed to have tracking tags but did not. This group likely encompasses violent criminals and inmates who have been freed from custody but still require oversight.

By March 2026, prison officials were examining approximately 8,900 instances where records showed active monitoring orders yet no physical tag was present. The Ministry of Justice has challenged this assessment, claiming their internal examination identified only 5,450 genuinely unmonitored individuals. According to the justice department, the higher NAO number represents all cases under review rather than confirmed cases of missing equipment.

Types of Monitoring and Current Statistics

Electronic monitoring, commonly referred to as tagging, serves as a mechanism for supervising curfews and other conditions attached to court or prison directives throughout England and Wales. The system comprises three distinct categories: curfew tags that track presence at designated locations during set hours, location tags that monitor movement patterns, and alcohol tags that detect drinking behavior.

Records indicate that 28,700 individuals were wearing tags as of March 2026. While the NAO acknowledges that some of the 8,900 flagged cases involve people mistakenly registered as having tags, the organization maintains that the actual number of individuals slipping through monitoring gaps could prove substantial.

Reasons for Monitoring Failures

Individuals may become classified as unmonitored through various circumstances. Technical mistakes within databases, personal refusal to wear devices, administrative delays in installation, or situations where tags are removed following an arrest all contribute to the problem. Additionally, some people simply never receive tags despite being legally required to do so.

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.

The Ministry of Justice responded to the findings by highlighting their substantial financial commitment to improving the system. They emphasized that tagging individuals prior to release represents a novel approach, alongside enhanced victim alert mechanisms designed to reduce the population of unmonitored offenders.

Systemic Challenges and Future Plans

Gareth Davies, head of the National Audit Office, criticized the existing framework as inadequate for modern demands. He noted that while electronic monitoring plays a crucial role in alleviating prison overcrowding, its current operation generates risks for public safety. Davies stressed that enhancements must be implemented to guarantee proper monitoring and effective responses to violations.

The investigation further revealed that both police personnel and probation workers frequently lack adequate information and resources to address breaches promptly. Under the Sentencing Act 2026, announced earlier this year, the government intends to dramatically increase electronic monitoring capacity. This legislation seeks to reduce prison pressure by keeping additional offenders under supervision within communities.

Thousands of additional prisoners could benefit from early release beginning this autumn under the new legislation. Preliminary reports indicate that murderers, rapists, and sexual offenders might qualify for these early releases, with most requiring electronic tags as part of their conditions.

The report makes clear we’re overworked. And it’s only going to get worse with more people set to do their punishment in the community.

Probation officers have expressed concerns about their ability to manage increased workloads. These professionals oversee whether offenders comply with release terms, including wearing ankle monitors and abstaining from prohibited substances. One officer warned that insufficient staffing combined with expanding community-based punishments creates dangerous conditions.

There aren’t enough of us, and we have no idea how the government is going to make it work so that nobody is at risk. Because something bad will happen, someone who is dangerous and isn’t monitored will kill someone.

The NAO identified a staffing deficit of approximately 2,200 full-time probation officers, though the government projects this gap will narrow to roughly 1,500 by September. Meanwhile, Serco, the security contractor responsible for managing the tagging infrastructure, achieved its 95% timeliness goal for tag installation visits. However, the contractor successfully fitted tags on only 62% of individuals during their first two attempts. The BBC has requested comment from Serco regarding these findings.

The National Audit Office continues to advocate for comprehensive reforms to address these systemic weaknesses and ensure public safety is adequately protected.