Watchdog warns UK tagging system unprepared for early prisoner releases

HM Inspector of Probation Martin Jones warned that England and Wales' electronic tagging system cannot automatically alert authorities when offenders breach exclusion zones, leaving overstretched police and probation officers to manually check cases. The warning precedes the planned early release of up to 5,000 prisoners from 1 October 2026 to ease overcrowding. Killers and domestic abusers remain eligible.