HC Deb 01 April 2004 vol 419 c1564W
Vera Baird

To ask the Solicitor-General what the Crown Prosecution Service's policy is on prosecuting for criminal damage people on home detection curfew who remove or break their electronic tag. [164444]

The Solicitor-General

An offender who intentionally damages their electronic tag in order to secure its removal or intentionally damages the monitoring equipment will be in breach of the licence conditions for early release from prison. The electronic monitoring contractor will submit a report to the Early Release and Recall Unit of HM Prison Service, which may result in the licence being revoked and the offender recalled to prison.

It is for the electronic monitoring contractors to consider reporting to the police for investigation any allegation of criminal damage caused to the tag or the monitoring equipment. Any subsequent decision to pursue a prosecution for criminal damage will be taken by the Crown Prosecution Service in accordance with guidance in the Code for Crown Prosecutors.