Crime suspects to go free with tags
THOUSANDS of susp e c t e d c r i m i n a l s , including burglars, drug dealers and even some murderers, are to be freed wearing controversial electronic tags. The Home Office has written to courts telling them to tag people who would otherwise be imprisoned on remand.
Burglars, thieves, drug offenders and other non-violent suspects are the most likely candidates.
But all bar the most dangerous criminals will be eligible – even those the authorities suspect may try to abscond.
Officials admit murderers could qualify if the courts are satisfied, in cases such as mercy killings, that there was no further risk to the public.
The prison population is close to bursting point at almost 78,000.
At any one time, there are 14,000 awaiting trial – a figure ministers want to slash. Home Office Minister Baroness Scotland told Westminster’s home affairs committee that magistrates had been sent ‘ guidance’ pointing out that tagging could be used as an alternative to prison. She said jail should be a place only for ‘dangerous and prolific’ offenders.
In a memo to MPs, made public yesterday, the Home Office said: ‘People should be remanded in custody only where there is a danger to the public or a significant risk of absconding.
‘ In the latter case the risk can be managed by making tagging a condition of bail.’
But critics point out that more than 4,500 crimes have been committed by people wearing tags, including murder. In the case of jeweller Marian Bates, serial criminal Peter Williams removed his tag days before he took part in a bungled armed robbery in which she died.
Her husband Victor said: ‘It
BURGLAR Steven
Readdy was tagged instead of being jailed – but he used his freedom to rape a girl of 12.
The 20- year- old was convicted of house burglary and theft in January 2004 by Manchester magistrates.
The maximum sentence he could have received for burglary is 14 years.
However, JPs gave him a 60-hour community punishment and rehabilitation
order. When he failed to comply, it was converted into a
curfew order last July.
At the time, a tag was fitted
around his ankle, yet three
months later Readdy raped
the girl.
In June, he was given a
four- year jail term after
admitting his guilt. But early
release rules mean he could
be out within two years.
When the sentence was
announced the girl’s angry
father shouted ‘ Is that it?’
from the public gallery. is frightening in the extreme if they think they can c u t d o w n t h e p r i s o n population by this artificial gag of supposedly tagging them when everyone knows they do not work.
‘Will the Home Office apologise every time one of these people commits an offence?’
If each year every magistrate in the country released just one remand suspect on a tag who they would otherwise have jailed it will lead to 30,000 fewer people in jail.
But Norman Brennan, director of the Victims of Crime Trust, said: ‘ If someone is suspected of a serious crime that warrants custody to protect society, then that’s where they should be.’
Shadow Home Secretary David Davis added: ‘ The Government is failing in its duty to protect the public by letting criminals out on tags when they should be in prison.’
Last night, the Home Office insisted the final decision on who is suitable to be tagged remained with courts. A spokesman said if courts are satisfied there is no further risk to the public, even a murderer could qualify.
Cindy Barnett, deputy chairman of the Magistrates’ Association, said courts currently jailed suspects on remand only if they felt it was necessary and would not tag anybody they felt was unsuitable.
Asked if magistrates had jailed people who should have been bailed, she replied: ‘Definitely not’.
j.slack@dailymail.co.uk