Expansion of electronic tagging in England and Wales will put public at risk, watchdog warns

National Audit Office says system needs to be upgraded before it is extended to ease strain on overcrowded prisons

The rapid expansion of electronic tagging to reduce pressure on prisons will put public safety at risk without robust improvements to a system already under significant strain, the UK’s public spending watchdog has warned.

The number of people in England and Wales being electronically monitored has doubled to 28,700 over five years, and is estimated to rise to 22,000 tagged each year from 2027 under government plans to combat the prison capacity crisis by managing more offenders in the community.