HC Deb 13 February 2004 vol 418 c252W
Mrs. Curtis-Thomas

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the case for(a) using tagging with an intensive supervision order and ( b) making tagged offenders who can afford it pay a rental for tagging equipment. [150180]

Paul Goggins

The Intensive Supervision and Surveillance Programme (ISSP) operates within the supervision order for juveniles. The programme is being evaluated by Oxford university and the evaluation report with 12 month reconviction data is now expected in April 2004. Electronic tagging provides the main form of monitoring of the offender on ISSP. Other forms of monitoring include voice verification.

Electronic monitoring is also used with curfew orders and tagging on bail as well as early release from custody. Evaluation of tagging for juveniles on curfew orders has been published. Progress is also being made on developing the Intensive Control and Change Programme with tagging for 18 to 20-year-old adults and we are extending the pilot areas.

We have no proposals to charge juvenile or adult offenders for tagging. The financial benefits of charging offenders for use of tagging equipment are likely to be small and offset by administration and enforcement costs. Tagging is already a cost effective alternative to custody.

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