Question
I thank the Minister for her very comprehensive answers. Electronic monitoring of offenders can be a useful tool to manage prison capacity for individuals who have carried out non-violent crimes, but there are some serious concerns about regional co-ordination. Can she assure the House that robust safeguards are in place to ensure that private monitoring contractors are sharing real-time flawless data with police forces in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland? What specific metric is her Department using to confirm that tagging systems are genuinely reducing offending, rather than being a sticking plaster for a broken system?
Answer
The hon. Gentleman asks a very thoughtful question, and one that probably requires a lengthier answer than I have time to give, but I absolutely acknowledge the point he makes. I am determined that we have the data, the monitoring and the reporting to ensure that this scheme does work and is not a sticking plaster, so that victims can have faith in it, and probation officers and the police can be supported to do what they need to do to keep our communities safe. We are investing significantly in this technology, and we need to ensure that it works. He raises a genuine and good point.43% vibes
Verdict: RED (15/100)
The reply says the Department wants data, monitoring and reporting in place for the tagging scheme and that it is investing in the technology. It does not name any specific safeguard, contractual requirement or data-sharing arrangement with police forces, so the first part of the question is only partly answered and in general terms. The second part, asking for a specific measure of whether tagging reduces offending, is not answered: the reply restates the aim that the scheme 'does work' without identifying any metric. Overall, the reply is largely hedged and would likely prompt a follow-up asking for the specifics.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whether robust safeguards are in place to ensure that private electronic monitoring contractors share real-time, accurate data with police forces across the United Kingdom. | Partially Addressed | Hedged | The reply says the Department wants 'the data, the monitoring and the reporting' in place and that it is investing significantly in the technology, but it names no safeguard, contractual requirement, or data-sharing mechanism with police forces, and never addresses real-time or accuracy of the data. Statements 1, 2, 6 and 7 are procedural or evaluative filler. |
| What specific metric the Department uses to confirm that electronic tagging is genuinely reducing offending. | Not Addressed | Generic | The item asks for a specific metric used to confirm that tagging reduces offending, and the reply names none; it only says the Department wants data and reporting so the scheme 'does work', which restates the goal rather than identifying any measure. |