A record number of offenders will be forced to stay sober over the Christmas and New Year period, as the Government steps up efforts to curb alcohol-fuelled crime.
New figures published on 30 December show that around 4,800 offenders — either released from prison or serving community sentences — will wear alcohol-monitoring tags during the festive season, the highest number to date.
The devices monitor alcohol levels around the clock by analysing sweat, immediately detecting when alcohol has been consumed. Seasonal staples such as mulled wine, prosecco and spirits will be strictly off-limits, with any breach triggering an alert to probation officers.
Offenders who drink while tagged can be ordered back to court and, in serious cases, returned to prison. The technology is sensitive enough to distinguish between low-level alcohol found in foods such as mince pies or Christmas pudding and stronger drinks that indicate intoxication.
The Government says the scheme is central to its Plan for Change, aimed at reducing alcohol-related offending and improving public safety during one of the busiest times of year for police and emergency services.
Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Justice, David Lammy, said: “Alcohol-driven crime causes real harm to victims and communities and piles extra pressure on our emergency services. Tackling it head-on is vital to make our streets safer.
These tags act as a physical and constant reminder to offenders that there’s no room for slip-ups — one drink and they could find themselves back in court or even behind bars”.
According to the National Audit Office, alcohol-related harm costs the UK economy an estimated £21 billion a year. Ministers point to growing evidence that alcohol tags are effective, with offenders required to abstain remaining sober on 97 per cent of the days they are monitored.
Police and crime commissioners have also welcomed the expansion.
Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) Joint Leads on Addiction and Substance Misuse, Joy Allen (Durham PCC) and David Sidwick (Dorset PCC) said:
“The link between alcohol and crime is well established, so measures proven to suppress offenders’ alcoholic intake, keeping them sober and out of trouble, benefit them and their communities.
We want people to enjoy the festivities without fear. PCCs and Deputy Mayors are working year-round with our partners within and beyond policing to prevent alcohol-related crime to build safer communities that can thrive and these tags play a vital role in that”.
Other tagging schemes have shown similar results. A study published in August found that thieves and burglars fitted with GPS tags were around 20 per cent less likely to reoffend, while curfew tags that restrict offenders to their homes during certain hours reduced reoffending by a similar margin.
The Government plans to expand tagging further as part of wider sentencing reforms. The annual probation budget is set to rise by up to £700 million by 2028, enabling tens of thousands more offenders to be monitored.
An additional £8 million is also being invested in new technology, including artificial intelligence tools such as automated transcription services, which ministers say could save staff the equivalent of 240,000 working days each year. Photo by morebyless, Wikimedia commons.