PRT comment: NAO report on electronic monitoring

Commenting on the findings of today’s (10 July) National Audit Office report on electronic monitoring, Pia Sinha, chief executive of the Prison Reform Trust, said:

“This report raises serious questions about whether the rapid expansion of electronic monitoring is being matched by the systems, staffing and oversight needed to make it effective. Electronic monitoring can play an important role in supporting people safely in the community, but only if it is properly resourced and there is also a focus on rehabilitation as well as compliance. The findings that thousands of people may not be actively monitored, that breaches are not always responded to effectively, and that probation services remain significantly understaffed should be a cause for concern.

“As ministers look for ways to manage prison overcrowding, there is a risk of seeing electronic monitoring as a panacea. Technology can support better outcomes, but it cannot substitute for the skilled probation staff, effective community services and tailored support that help people move away from crime. Expanding the use of tagging without addressing wider pressures risks undermining both public confidence and public safety.

“The government should take the NAO’s findings seriously and ensure that any further expansion is accompanied by investment in probation, robust safeguards and a clear understanding of what success looks like. Electronic monitoring can be an effective tool, but only when they are part of a well-functioning system that enables people to rebuild their lives and reduce reoffending.”