Hundreds of early-release prisoners in England and Wales not being tagged, say MPs

Clive Efford says Serco has failed to source enough tags, as police and probation struggle with influx of newly released offenders

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Hundreds of prisoners released early across England and Wales, including stalkers and violent offenders, are not being tagged by Serco, MPs have said, despite promises of the “toughest supervision in British history”.

As the government begins to release a second tranche of 650 offenders to relieve the prison overcrowding crisis, police and probation officers have said they are struggling to cope with a new influx of offenders who are supposed to be monitored in the community.