Thousands of offenders not wearing electronic tags, UK report says

A significant number of offenders in England and Wales are not wearing mandated electronic monitoring tags, according to a critical report by the National Audit Office (NAO). The audit found nearly 9,000 individuals subject to monitoring orders were not tagged as of March 2026, a figure that could include violent offenders and those recently released from prison.

“

Electronic monitoring is central to managing pressures on prisons, but it is not working effectively, creating risks to public protection.

The NAO described the current system as "inefficient" and warned it creates risks to public protection. "Electronic monitoring is central to managing pressures on prisons, but it is not working effectively, creating risks to public protection," stated NAO chief Gareth Davies. He emphasized the need for improvements to ensure all individuals requiring monitoring are tagged and that breaches are addressed promptly.

However, the Ministry of Justice contested the NAO's figure, presenting its own review that identified 5,450 unmonitored individuals. The ministry argued the NAO's number represents cases undergoing review rather than confirmed instances of non-compliance. In response to the report's findings, the Ministry of Justice highlighted a £100 million investment aimed at enhancing electronic monitoring, including tagging offenders before release and strengthening victim protection through new alert systems.

“

Improvements are required to ensure that those who should be monitored are monitored and that breaches are responded to effectively.

The report also noted that police and probation staff frequently lack the necessary information or capacity to respond swiftly to breaches of electronic monitoring conditions. These conditions can include curfews or geographical restrictions, with violations potentially leading to warnings, court appearances, or immediate return to prison. The Ministry of Justice plans to expand electronic monitoring significantly under the Sentencing Act 2026, intended to alleviate prison pressures by managing more offenders in the community.

“

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.