03 February 2006
More than £9.3m a year could be saved if prisoners deemed suitable for electronic tagging as a condition of early release were sent home when eligible, government auditors said this week.
Home Office data examined by the National Audit Office shows that only 59% of offenders were released within two days of their eligibility date, because of delays in gathering information about prisoners' suitability for the scheme.
A February 1 NAO report examined the cost-effectiveness of electronic monitoring as both a condition of early release and as a sentence of the court.
It concluded that electronic tagging offers good value for money. Three months of an electronically monitored curfew is almost five times cheaper than three months in custody.
The technology used was also found to be robust and reliable.
Commenting on the report, Public Accounts Committee chair Edward Leigh said: 'Tagging is an important weapon in the criminal justice armoury but there is room to make it work much better…
The system is being undermined by delays.'
PFfeb2006
