Tens of thousands of offenders will face stricter monitoring as the Government unveils the largest-ever expansion of electronic tagging.
Backed by £100 million in new funding, the measure forms part of the Sentencing Bill, a cornerstone of the Government’s Plan for Change to reduce reoffending and safeguard communities.
Reforming Justice with Tighter Oversight
The UK Government has announced that up to 22,000 more offenders and defendants will be tagged each year. The initiative, confirmed in Parliament on 2 September, introduces a presumption that all prison leavers will be tagged upon release.
The reforms aim to strengthen public safety, modernise sentencing, and ensure offenders face meaningful consequences for their actions.
Historic Expansion of Tagging
This expansion marks the most significant change to electronic monitoring since curfew tags were first introduced in 1999.
The £100 million investment represents a 30 percent increase in funding for electronic monitoring systems, reinforcing the Government’s focus on accountability.
A new pilot programme launching next month will tag offenders before they leave prison, closing surveillance gaps during the critical period immediately after release. If successful, the scheme will be rolled out nationally.
Strengthening Prison and Probation Oversight
For the first time, tagging will be presumed for all prison leavers, unless probation officers determine otherwise. This shift introduces an “intensive supervision” phase, where probation staff closely monitor behaviour and progress.
The Government argues this will:
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Provide greater protection for victims
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Ensure offenders remain under continuous supervision
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Reduce risks of reoffending during transition to community life
Sentencing Bill Reforms
The Sentencing Bill introduces wide-reaching reforms intended to prevent the justice system from reaching crisis point.
Inspired partly by models in Texas, the bill creates an “earned progression model” where prisoners who break rules will serve longer behind bars. Automatic release for offenders who misbehave will end.
Judges will also gain tougher powers to impose consecutive penalties for violent or disruptive behaviour inside prisons. This means repeat offenders could serve their entire sentence in custody if misconduct persists.
Major Sentencing Bill Measures
| Measure | Description | Anticipated Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Tagging Expansion | Presumption all prison leavers tagged | Up to 22,000 additional tags annually |
| Earned Progression Model | Badly behaved prisoners serve longer | Incentivises good behaviour, reduces disorder |
| Alternative Sentences | Replace short terms with community penalties | Reduce reoffending, free up prison places |
| Victim Protections | Restriction zones and abuse findings | Stronger safeguards for victims |
Alternatives to Short Prison Sentences
The Government plans to replace prison sentences of under 12 months with tougher community-based penalties. This shift reflects evidence that short custodial terms often lead to higher reoffending rates.
Community penalties will include:
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Restricting offenders from venues such as pubs, concerts, or sports events
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Publishing the names and photos of offenders carrying out unpaid work
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New financial penalties, such as “income reduction orders” forcing offenders to forfeit part of their earnings
Victim Protections and Support
The bill also prioritises victims’ safety. Newly introduced “restriction zones” will prevent offenders from entering areas where victims may live or travel, reducing the risk of unwanted encounters.
Additionally, courts will now issue formal findings of domestic abuse during sentencing, enabling closer monitoring of offenders and tailored protective measures for victims.
Investing in the Probation Service
To support these reforms, the Government is investing up to £700 million in the Probation Service by 2028/29, representing a 45 percent budget increase. Recruitment efforts are also accelerating, with 1,300 trainee probation officers expected by March next year.
This workforce expansion, combined with new technologies, will ease administrative workloads and allow staff to focus on supervising offenders and protecting communities.
To Sum Up
The Sentencing Bill represents the most comprehensive package of justice reforms in decades. By expanding tagging, investing in probation, and toughening sentencing, the Government aims to make communities safer while reducing reoffending.
For readers, these measures highlight a major shift towards accountability and reform in the UK’s criminal justice system.
Sources: Ministry of Justice and The Rt Hon Shabana Mahmood MP.
Prepared by Ivan Alexander Golden, Founder of THX News™, an independent news organization delivering timely insights from global official sources. Combines AI-analyzed research with human-edited accuracy and context.
