Electronic monitoring equipment is taking as long as five months to install on some offenders, potentially giving victims a misleading impression that they are being protected, a report has warned.
An initial briefing from the inspection found that ankle tags designed to track offenders’ movements were fitted within the required timeframe in fewer than half of cases.
The delays were linked to repeated breaches of curfews and other requirements set by courts or included in prison release licences.
Inspectors reviewed a sample of 180 people monitored electronically under court orders or licence conditions.
Only 55 per cent of location-tracking ankle tags were installed on schedule. Alcohol-monitoring devices performed little better, with just 60 per cent fitted promptly; in some cases, offenders waited five months for equipment.
The alcohol tags test sweat for ethanol every 30 minutes and are intended for offenders whose crimes are linked to drinking.
The review also raised concerns about how monitoring information was handled. Significant breaches were identified and investigated in only 46 per cent of cases where action may have been required.
Inspectors found limited evidence that electronic monitoring was being used consistently to encourage lasting changes in behaviour or help reduce reoffending.
Some offenders are waiting up to five months for electronic tags, prompting warnings that victims could be left with a ‘false sense of assurance’
Labour introduced its early release scheme in September 2024 in an effort to tackle overcrowding in prisons
More than 2,500 prisoners are expected to be released before Christmas under Labour’s early release programme, with most due to wear electronic tags.
The move will significantly increase demand on an already stretched monitoring system.
The Probation Service uses electronic tags to enforce curfews and monitor conditions imposed by courts or prison release orders.
Martin Jones, chief inspector of probation for England and Wales, cautioned that expanding electronic tagging without fixing existing problems could lead to promises of greater public protection that the system cannot deliver.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham told the Commons in September that he understood the “anguish” experienced by bereaved families following changes to the early release programme, although he did not apologise to them.
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Mr Jones said the technology was not yet delivering on its full potential.
He said: “Our inspection makes the position clear: electronic monitoring is expanding quickly, but the systems, procedures and frontline work required to make it effective have failed to keep pace.
“Unless these weaknesses are dealt with, the criminal justice system risks depending on technology that is not being used to its full capacity.
“Electronic monitoring can create a dangerous false sense of reassurance when the technology is not supported by strong professional practice.”
By June 2026, a total of 27,847 people in England and Wales had been issued with electronic monitoring equipment under tagging orders.
In a statement to the BBC, a Ministry of Justice spokesman said the Government’s priority was ‘public protection’.
They said: ‘That’s why we are delivering the biggest expansion of tagging in British history, backed by £100 million in funding, with tag install rates up by nearly 50% since 2024.
‘This is part of our record £700 million investment in probation and community services, recruiting 2,300 trainee officers over the last two years and a further 1,300 this year – ensuring dangerous offenders are kept under closer surveillance than ever before.’
Experts warned earlier this month that ankle tags were ‘too slow’ to protect domestic abuse, sexual assault and stalking victims from their attackers.
Currently, if a criminal wearing an ankle tag breaches their exclusion zones, probation officers are just sent an email – meaning nothing will be done until the following day if the alert is sent out of working hours.
As thousands of convicts are due to be set loose early from October under Labour’s early release scheme, watchdogs have said these alerts could come ‘too late’ for those living in fear of their abusers.
In the last six months, suspects breaching their tag conditions have already rocketed by nearly 50 per cent in London alone, from 2,977 in January to 4,408 in July.
Mr Jones said: ‘At present, the electronic monitoring is too clunky and reactive. We need a shift to smoother, proactive management.
‘I know the Metropolitan Police have voiced very similar concerns around the need for faster real-time information.
‘If it is to command public confidence, we need electronic monitoring systems that can be used to provide faster responses where they are needed.’
