London police will reduce enforcement of tagging breaches

By the Editorial Team · Monday, October 26, 2026

The Metropolitan Police in London will pilot reduced enforcement of minor electronic tagging breaches, focusing police resources on higher-risk individuals amid increased tagging violations following the early release of over 4,500 prisoners. This change aims to address growing pressures on the criminal justice system, though the early release program faces criticism over potential public safety risks and insufficient support for released offenders.

The Metropolitan Police in London has announced a new pilot scheme that will reduce enforcement of minor breaches of electronic tagging conditions, as the force contends with increased pressures within the criminal justice system. Under the initiative, officers will not act on small violations, such as curfew breaches of less than an hour, particularly when offenders are assessed as low risk. Priority will remain on monitoring high-risk individuals, including domestic abusers.

The move comes amid a significant increase in tagging breaches following a Labour government scheme to address prison overcrowding by releasing more than 4,500 inmates early over the next ten months. This includes about 1,350 prisoners released in the current month alone. The majority of these individuals are subject to tagging conditions designed to monitor their whereabouts while in the community.

According to Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley, officers currently respond to over 100 tagging breaches daily, many involving minor infractions such as stepping outside briefly or returning home late by a few minutes. Sir Mark expressed concern about the increased workload, noting that police arrest two or three people weekly for breaches related to the early release scheme. However, he pointed out that over 95 percent of those arrested for tagging violations are subsequently bailed under the same conditions, limiting the deterrent effect and tying up resources.

The Metropolitan Police emphasized that the pilot aims to allow officers to focus on protecting the public from genuine risks rather than pursuing low-level offences that do not present a serious threat. The decision to scale back enforcement on minor breaches is intended to free up resources for higher priority tasks.

The early release initiative, which is intended to alleviate pressure on prisons, has drawn criticism from some political figures who argue that it may compromise public safety. A Conservative justice spokesperson highlighted concerns over the potential for increased reoffending, especially given reports that the Probation Service has resorted to distributing tents to some released offenders due to a lack of available housing. This development has raised questions about the adequacy of support for those freed under the scheme.

The government has stated that the pilot program applies to offenders and alleged criminals on bail, aiming to balance practical enforcement challenges with the need to maintain public safety. The Metropolitan Police’s approach reflects an effort to adjust enforcement priorities in response to evolving demands on the justice system, though debates over the implications of early prisoner releases and tagging enforcement continue.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.