A DANGEROUS lag was able to roam without a GPS tag for more than 50 days after being released from jail early.
The unnamed prisoner was set free in September as part of the scheme to ease prison overcrowding.
More than 1,000 offenders — including violent criminals — were let out months early in the move by Labour.
Many were freed on licence, meaning they had to wear an ankle tag so their movements could be monitored to check they were obeying a curfew or other restrictions.
But the con in question was one of a number who were not fitted with a tag immediately.
Instead he was free to go wherever he liked unchecked until November 2 — 53 days later — when one was finally attached by a private security contractor.
Government sources blamed the unnamed firm for the lengthy delay.
It comes as senior cops have raised concerns about the state of the monitoring systems after we revealed that a machete-wielding teenager cut off his tag and absconded.
Met commissioner Sir Mark Rowley highlighted the 16-year-old boy’s case, as his force had to dedicate “massive resources” to finding the teen in Eltham, South East London.
He has since been bailed again.
Our statistics also show eight criminals have avoided being tagged in the past two years because bungling authorities had the wrong address.
We can also reveal that crooks who were supposed to have been monitored by probation officials carried out almost 750 murders and sex attacks in just five years.
Ministry of Justice figures show that 377 convicted of murder and 369 jailed for serious sex crimes were supposedly being tracked, though not all would have had an electronic tag fitted.
They include Jordan McSweeney, 29, who sexually assaulted and murdered Zara Aleena, 35, in Ilford, East London, in 2022.
McSweeney had been let out of jail on licence after serving a robbery term a week beforehand and missed two probation appointments.
Ex-cop Peter Bleksley said our findings show tagging is a “complete waste of time” if it is not effectively monitored.
The MoJ said: “Fewer than 0.5 per cent of offenders supervised by probation commit a serious further offence.”
A spokesman said that 1,300 new probation officers were being brought in this year.
GettyA dangerous lag was able to roam without a GPS tag for more than 50 days after being released from jail early[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
