CRIMINALS will be tagged from the second they leave prison under a new shake-up to the justice system.
The crackdown on surveillance is part of the Government’s landmark Sentencing Bill, which introduces radical reforms to how offenders are punished.
The Sun was given exclusive access behind bars to see for ourselves how lags will be fitted with devices
Ian WhittakerThe Sun’s Julia Atherley was fitted with a GPS tag behind bars[/caption]
Ian WhittakerOffenders currently have to wait up to 48 hours for a contractor from Serco to come and secure their tag at their home address[/caption]
Part of the changes include a pilot where inmates will have ankle tags fitted before leaving prison gates.
The Sun was given exclusive access behind bars to see for ourselves how lags will be fitted with devices before they step foot outside.
Currently, offenders have to wait up to 48 hours for a contractor from Serco to come and secure their tag at their home address.
The trial scheme will be rolled out at six prisons across England and Wales.
It aims to eliminate the surveillance gap in offender monitoring.
In the last year there have been cases where criminals have waited weeks for tags to be fitted.
The pilot is part of an expansion in electronic monitoring which Labour hope can mean more people can serve their sentences in the community, rather than behind bars.
Lags can be given GPS tags, which monitor them constantly, or Curfew tags, which assess whether they are at home during designated hours.
Alcohol tags are also available which ensure offenders are sticking to sobriety requirements by monitoring the alcohol levels in their sweat.
Around 20,000 people are currently tracked by tags in the UK, compared to a prison population of 88,000.
A recent study has found that thieves and burglars were 20 per cent less likely to reoffend when tracked by a GPS tag.
The pilot is part of The Sentencing Bill, which introduces a new “earned progression model” – where prisoners can earn earlier release with good behaviour.
Foreign criminals will also be deported straight away, rather than serving time in British prisons.
Short sentences of under a year will effectively be scrapped for most crimes and replaced by punishments in the community.
New punishments outside of prison will include bans from going to the pub, concerts, or sport matches, and more unpaid work such as cleaning up graffiti.
Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, said: “Tagging works. It punishes offenders and cuts crime.
“It’s a constant reminder to offenders that we’re watching their every move.
“That’s why we’re now going to track them from the moment they walk out of prison, rather than waiting to tag them at home.
“We already have record numbers of offenders on tags, and now we’re pursuing the biggest expansion in tagging ever.
“Alongside 14,000 extra prison places we are building and our new sentencing reforms, we are fixing the broken system we inherited.
“We are punishing criminals, protecting victims, and making our streets safer – all part of our Plan for Change.”
My view – The Sun’s experience in Wormwood Scrubs
By Julia Atherley, Home Affairs Correspondent
As the cell door slammed shut behind me, I looked around at my bare holding cell for the first time.
Following in the footsteps of infamous criminals like Moors murderer Ian Brady, Yorkshire ripper Peter Sutcliffe, and violent lag Charles Bronson, I had been locked up in Wormwood Scrubs.
It was a bleak room, with just a few slats of daylight peaking through the bars outside my window.
Thankfully, my time inside ‘The Scrubs’ was to be short-lived.
After a few agonising minutes, the heavy door opened again and I was informed that I would be released along with the other four inmates getting out today.
But before I could get my taste of freedom, I was to be tagged.
Usually after release, lags have to wait at home for a Serco contractor to turn up and secure a device around their ankle.
The delay means that there is a gap in surveillance and some offenders do a runner before their tag turns up.
Back in my cell, I get my ankle measured for my new tracking device.
With the thick black band around my leg, my every move would be monitored and fed back to my probation team.
Outside at the processing desk, an officer reads me my licence conditions.
Similar to those handed to real offenders, they include to be of good character, reside at an address approved by my supervising officer, and not commit any further offences.
Any breaches would see me recalled to prison, and back in that pokey cell.
Once I had agreed to my terms, I was handed back my property and led outside along the perimeter of the prison to the gates.
It was a slow wait as I watched the door open and an officer signal that it was my time to leave.
Even after my short spell inside, the fresh air and open space was a welcome arrival.
Walking out from the iconic Scrubs gates it would have been easy to forget that my moves were still being monitored, despite my new-found freedom.
But to my relief, when my tag was finally cut off from around my ankle I was spared a return to behind bars.
Ian WhittakerSun reporter Julia wearing the ankle bracelet[/caption]
Ian WhittakerThe Sun spoke with HMP Wormwood Scrubs Governor Amy Frost[/caption]
Ian WhittakerHMP Wormwood Scrubs in London[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
