More than a quarter of criminals have breached the conditions of their electronic tagging order or had them revoked, alarming new figures have revealed.
Pressure is growing for reforms of the system after figures revealed only 72.6 per cent of all tagging orders have been completed ‘without breach, revocation or resentence’.
The worst completion rate was in Aberdeen, at just 56 per cent.
Electronic tags and other community sentences have increasingly been used as an alternative to a prison sentence, but concerns have been raised about it being a soft touch approach.
Figures obtained by Scottish Labour show the proportion of orders or licences where the electronic monitoring conditions were abided by was 72.6 per cent from April to September 2023.
SNP ministers were also urged to allow the use of new technology such as GPS electronic monitoring and bracelets which can monitor alcohol use.
Concerns have been raised about using electronic tags and other community sentences as an alternative to a prison sentence in Scotland
Katy Clark, Scottish Labour’s spokesman for community safety, said: ‘It’s concerning that so many individuals fitted with tagging devices are failing to comply with their conditions. It’s a reminder that Scotland is still a way behind when it comes to effective of use of electronic monitoring.
‘Electronic monitoring is not a silver bullet, but if used properly it could be an important tool as a rehabilitative measure, an alternative to custody, and also to prevent crime and reoffending. Scottish Labour backs using this technology more effectively and the rapid introduction of GPS.’
Figures at the start of October showed that there were 1,724 people being monitored with an electronic device, while the average prison population in Scotland last year was 7,426.
New legislation introduced in 2019 permitted the use of GPS electronic monitoring and bracelets which track alcohol use.
But the new technologies have not been rolled out in Scotland despite being used extensively south of the Border. A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘Further expanding the use of electronic monitoring, including with GPS, is one of many approaches being taken to address the prison population.
‘The statistics cited include instances where orders have been revoked because a monitored person’s behaviour has been positive and authorities judge that electronic monitoring is no longer required.’
n Criminals targeted under proceeds of crime laws have failed to hand over more than £10million.
Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) figures show there is £10,272,711 outstanding in confiscation orders. Almost £4million is owed by only ten people.
A £1million order was handed out to brothel boss Margaret Paterson in May 2015. But she died in 2019 having paid just £219,559. Prosecutors are trying to recover money from her estate.
Scottish Tory community safety spokesman Russell Findlay said: ‘Parasites know their dirty fortunes are safe and even when a confiscation order is secured, they have become little more than organised crime IOUs.’
An SCTS spokesman said: ‘By its nature a confiscation order is a financial penalty that may take some time to recover in full.’