§ Mr. ClappisonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 15 June 1998,Official Report, column 71, in respect of the offender who circumvented the strap of the equipment provided by the Digital Products Corporation, which company was responsible for monitoring the electronic tag; what plans he has for the same or similar equipment to be used in future; and what assessment he has made of whether other straps are susceptible to similar attempts at circumvention. [46986]
§ Ms QuinSecuricor Custodial Services was responsible for monitoring the offender who circumvented the tag. The type of equipment in question made use of first generation technology and I understand that Securicor has no plans to use such equipment again. All electronic monitoring equipment in England and Wales is tested, prior to its authorisation for use, against the technical criteria specified by the Home Office, which includes an assessment of the susceptibility of the equipment to tampering.