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A recent investigation conducted by the National Audit Office (NAO) revealed that nearly 9,000 individuals in England and Wales, who were supposed to be fitted with electronic monitoring tags, were not actually wearing them. This group likely includes violent offenders and former prisoners released on conditions that require close supervision. By March 2026, prison authorities were assessing approximately 8,900 cases where there was an active monitoring order recorded, but no corresponding tag was found on the individual.
However, the Ministry of Justice has challenged the NAO’s figures, reporting that their internal review identified 5,450 individuals without tags. The Ministry explained that the higher NAO number reflected the total cases under review to determine whether monitoring was necessary. The NAO described the current system as “inefficient,” highlighting the various types of electronic monitoring in use—including curfew, location, and alcohol tags—with 28,700 people tagged across England and Wales as of the same date. While some cases of unmonitored individuals might result from administrative errors, the NAO warned that a significant number of offenders could be bypassing the system.
There are multiple reasons why people may be categorized as “unmonitored.” These include system errors, delays in fitting tags, refusal to wear them, or individuals removing tags following arrest. Some, however, are simply not being tagged when they should be. Responding to the concerns, the Ministry of Justice emphasized its commitment to public safety, mentioning a £100 million investment to improve electronic monitoring, tag offenders before release, and enhance victim protection through new alert systems. NAO chief Gareth Davies stated, “Electronic monitoring is central to managing pressures on prisons, but it is not working effectively, creating risks to public protection,” and called for necessary improvements to ensure monitoring is thorough and breaches are swiftly addressed.
Offenders fitted with tags must adhere to strict conditions, including curfews or restricted movements. Violations of these conditions may lead to formal warnings, court appearances, or immediate imprisonment. Earlier in 2026, the Ministry of Justice announced plans to expand electronic monitoring significantly as part of the Sentencing Act 2026, which aims to alleviate prison overcrowding by supervising more offenders in the community. This expansion could see thousands of prisoners, including those convicted of serious crimes such as murder, rape, and sexual offences, released early and placed on electronic monitoring. Probation officers, responsible for enforcing release terms including tag compliance and drug restrictions, have expressed concern about the increasing workload. One probation officer told the BBC that they are “overworked” and worry how the government plans to prevent risks with the surge in community sentences.
The NAO identified a shortage of around 2,200 full-time probation officers, though the government expects this gap to narrow to 1,500 by September 2026. Meanwhile, the security firm Serco, which manages the tagging system, has met its target to begin installation visits 95% of the time but only successfully fitted tags on 62% of individuals after two attempts. Serco stated it has made “significant improvements,” tagging “a record number of people” and consistently meeting key contractual targets recognized by the Ministry of Justice and NAO. The company highlighted its dependence on receiving accurate information from authorities to carry out successful tag fittings and noted that any breaches due to their inability to fit tags are reported to relevant officials.
The NAO urged the government to enhance data management and improve the overall monitoring system’s performance. While acknowledging ongoing collaboration with Serco to reduce installation backlogs, officials project that 22,000 people annually will require tagging from 2027 onward. Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, chair of the Committee of Public Accounts, warned that expanding electronic monitoring without strengthening the system’s efficiency and resilience “risks wasting public money and puts public safety at risk.” The Ministry of Justice responded by highlighting that they inherited a malfunctioning tagging system with severe backlogs but have increased installation rates by nearly 50% since 2024. They also pointed to a record £700 million investment in probation services, including the recruitment of thousands of new probation officers, to ensure closer supervision of dangerous offenders than ever before
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