Alcohol Sobriety Tags to Monitor Offenders Over New Year Period in England and Wales
Offenders identified as having alcohol problems in England and Wales will have their alcohol consumption monitored through sobriety tags over the New Year period. Currently, about 5,000 individuals released from prison or serving community sentences wear these tags, which monitor the wearers' sweat 24/7 and send an alcohol alert to probation officers. These officers can then order actions such as a return to court or prison if alcohol consumption is detected.
The Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy emphasized that alcohol-driven crime harms victims and communities, and the sobriety tags aim to remind offenders to remain sober. Since their launch in 2021, tagged offenders have stayed sober on approximately 97% of days while wearing the tag. Some offenders have reported lifestyle improvements as a result of the scheme.
The National Audit Office estimates that alcohol-fuelled crime costs the UK economy about £21 billion a year. While the government plans to expand the tagging scheme, increasing the annual probation budget by up to £700 million by 2028 to tag tens of thousands more offenders, addiction services have warned that the scheme may be risky for some individuals with alcohol dependence if withdrawal symptoms occur and that it does not address the root causes of addiction.
Studies of pilot programs indicate that GPS tagging has reduced reoffending by about 20% for thieves and burglars, and curfew tags are associated with a similar reduction in reoffending rates.
