Offenders: Electronic Tagging

The Ministry of Justice has published a number of evaluations examining the effectiveness of different forms of electronic monitoring.

• The Acquisitive Crime Impact Evaluation (2025) found that acquisitive crime offenders serving custodial sentences of 12 months or more who were subject to GPS trail monitoring on release were around 20% less likely to reoffend than comparable offenders who were not monitored.

• The Radio Frequency Curfew Impact Evaluation (2025) found that offenders subject to an electronically monitored curfew requirement as part of a community sentence were around 20% less likely to reoffend and were more likely to comply with other requirements of their order.

• Evidence of alcohol monitoring tags for community orders shows very high compliance, with no alcohol consumption or tampering recorded on 97% of monitored days.

• The Domestic Abuse Perpetrators on Licence Process Evaluation (2025) found that probation practitioners and victim-support staff were generally positive about the use of electronic monitoring as a tool to manage domestic abuse risk, and to provide reassurance to victims. Further evaluation of the scheme is ongoing, with interim findings published earlier this year and a full impact evaluation due in 2027.

The Government will continue to build on this evidence base as it expands the use of electronic monitoring and implements reforms recommended by the Independent Sentencing Review. Under the new post-custody progression model, there will be a presumption that individuals leaving custody will be electronically monitored for the period they would otherwise have spent in custody under the previous arrangements. This will enable probation to monitor significantly more offenders in the community while supporting effective risk management.