Leading article: Time to tighten up on tagging

 

Share
+More
Related Topics

Hard cases, they say, make bad laws. But they may make for improved enforcement. The sentencing yesterday of an electronically tagged 15-year-old charged with stabbing a man to death may be an extreme example: the youth had breached the terms of his tagging order several times in the previous month. But this is far from an isolated incident.

The number of curfews imposed by courts, and monitored by electronic tags, has more than doubled over the past six years. Some 10 per cent of the total probation budget is now involved with tagging. Yet research by the Inspector of Probation finds that 57 per cent of tagged criminals violate the terms of their curfews. And more than half of the incidents involve serious violations. Neither is the situation new: a previous report in 2008 highlighted very similar problems.

Many breaches occur because of delays in enforcing the tagging orders: the Probation Inspector uncovered confusion between the Probation Service and the private companies to which tagging has been outsourced. But there are problems, too, with the poor quality of the information received from the court by tag-fitters. What is most striking is that all those involved are anxious to shift responsibility elsewhere. Rather than being distracted by a meaningless blame game, the Government's focus must be to develop concrete measures to tighten up the system.

The Government is keen to increase the use of tagging. Rightly so. Punishment in the community is preferable not only on cost grounds, but also because it can improve rehabilitation rates. But the system will not achieve anything if it is misapplied. As things now stand, not only are tagging curfews not being maintained, the technology is also not being applied in a targeted way. It is also too often used in inappropriate situations, such as domestic violence.

At present, the gap between the potential of tagging and the reality on the ground is inexcusably wide. Ministers may want to extend the maximum confinement at home from 12 to 16 hours per day. Before they can do so, however, public confidence in community sentences will need to be increased. That means ensuring there is a robust enforcement regime.

React Now

Day In a Page

Read Next
 

Finding the sweetest way to be insulting to someone is one of the few consolations left to us

Howard Jacobson
One of the alleged attackers speaks to a camera while the other talks to Cub Scout leader Ingrid Loyau-Kennett  

This week's big questions: How best to react to Woolwich? Has Miliband got what it takes? And is Stephen King right about ebooks?

Ian Rankin
James Pembroke: The man who's eaten everywhere

The man who's eaten everywhere

Few people know more about restaurants than James Pembroke, who only spent five mealtimes at home during his entire childhood.
A Berliner in 1963 – but did John F Kennedy once admire Adolf Hitler?

A Berliner in 1963 – but did John F Kennedy once admire Adolf Hitler?

The young JFK praised 'superior' Nordic races during visits to Germany
Banned Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof to attend Cannes Film Festival 2013, his first public appearance since prison

Banned Iranian director to attend Cannes Film Festival

Mohammad Rasoulof to make his first public appearance since being imprisoned three years ago
Seeing the larger picture: Inspiring images of space

Seeing the larger picture: Inspiring images of space

An exhibition explores images how photography has shaped astronomy
Eat Spam and carry on: Wartime pamphlets could teach us a thing or two about healthy, thrifty eating

Eat Spam and carry on

Wartime pamphlets could teach us a thing or two about healthy, thrifty eating
Facial hair: Cat beards and the purrrsuit of excellence

Facial hair

Cat beards and the purrrsuit of excellence
The 10 Best salt and pepper sets

The 10 Best salt and pepper sets

Whether they're for everyday use or to make your dining table look just right, it's worth getting a stylish shaker...
Ferran Soriano: Predicting success if Manchester City 'vision' is followed

Ferran Soriano: Predicting success if Manchester City 'vision' is followed

Chief executive says trophies will come if a 'core' of suitable players is in place
Thomas Müller: We couldn't handle losing a Champions League Final again

Thomas Müller: We couldn't handle losing a Champions League Final again

The Bayern Munich forward tells Tim Rich his side have to shed chokers' tag after two recent final defeats
Giro d'Italia: The Stelvio Pass - cycling's killer climb

The Stelvio Pass - cycling's killer climb

As the Giro d'Italia tackles the brutal climb, Simon Usborne takes on the snow and switchbacks – and soon realises what the fuss is about
National archives: Edward VIII’s phone calls - and how MI5 bugged them

Edward VIII’s phone calls - and how MI5 bugged them

Newly unearthed papers reveal a shocking extra dimension to the constitutional crisis over monarch’s abdication
Sent down at the Old Bailey: A tour of the world's most famous court

Sent down at the Old Bailey

A tour of the world's most famous court
Hollywood's random acts of red-carpet kindness

Hollywood's random acts of red-carpet kindness

The Hangover actor Zach Galifianakis’s date for his movie premieres isn’t arm candy  – it’s his 87-year-old friend who he saved from homelessness
British football scores an own goal

British football scores an own goal

Many managers barely survive a year in post. Martin Baker talks to experts who make a case for clubs using forensic business skills to find the best staff
James Lawton: Sergio Garcia cracks as major fault line opens up again

James Lawton

Sergio Garcia cracks as major fault line opens up again