§ Mr. Bob RussellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many early release prisoners have been fitted with an electronic tracking device; and how many have been given permission to breach the evening curfew restrictions. [107169]
§ Mr. BoatengUp to midnight on 26 January, a total of 16,242 offenders had been placed on Home Detention Curfew since the commencement of the scheme on 28 January 1999.
The electronic monitoring service is provided by private sector contractors operating to strict Home Office guidelines. The contractors may grant "one-off' absences in specified circumstances, which must be capable of being verified and documented. The circumstances are clearly laid out in their contract and are currently as follows:
Circumstances in which emergency medical treatment for the curfewee or his/her immediate dependants is required;An irregular or unexpected medical appointment for the offender or his/her immediate dependants;A requirement, as part of the curfewee's permanent employment, to work at short notice, and where there would be insufficient time to contact the prison governor. The contractor is required to receive written verification from the employer that the work was required and took place;Any absence caused by the curfewee being detained in police custody;Attending the marriage or funeral of a close relative;Attendance at a job interview, job club or benefit office, or elsewhere to "sign on" in connection with any claims for financial assistance; andAttendance at court as a witness or as a defendant.Other than in the event of these "one-off' absences, contractors have no discretion to grant permission to be absent from the place of curfew during the specified curfew period.
432WInformation about the number of cases in which contractors have agreed to a "one-off' absence is not held centrally.