Electronic Monitoring

A guide for criminal justice

professionals
Content
1. Sentencing purposes Page 4
2. Changing lives: Page 6
Multi-requirement Community Order
3. How electronic monitoring works Page 8
4. Changing lives: Page 11
Single-requirement Community Order
5. Myth busting Page 12
6. Targeted curfews Page 15
Introduction
Electronic Monitoring, or ’tagging’, is an established
and key tool for criminal justice agencies by
monitoring people in the community who are
subject to a curfew.
It provides a robust, disciplined and cost-effective
means of monitoring subjects who are carrying out
community sentences, are on bail pending a court
hearing, or who have been released from prison or
youth custody and are subject to licence conditions.
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1. Sentencing Purposes
Curfew with Electronic Monitoring (EM) is appropriate for the following:
Punishment
Curfew with EM can be a significant
punishment for offenders:
■■ Restricts liberty
■■ Movement is confined to the
specified address
■■ Can be used with other
requirements
■■ Hours and length can be tailored
to be proportionate to the
punishment
■■ Can be used as an effective
breach penalty for other
requirements, such as Unpaid
Work
■■ Immediate application - most
curfews are installed on the night
of the sentence thereby linking
cause and effect in the
offender’s mind
4 5
Public Protection
Curfew with EM helps protect the
public and hours can be tailored to
address specific offending patterns:
■■ Immediate application - most
curfews are installed on the night
of sentence
■■ Breaches are dealt with swiftly
■■ Curfews can fit patterns of crime
to protect the victim or public
■■ Contributes to risk management
strategies
■■ No restrictions for bail – up to 24
hours per day, 7 days a week
Crime Reduction
Curfew with EM provides an
opportunity for offenders to turn
their lives around in a controlled way
and change their offending behaviour
by allowing them
to access work, education, family life
and society:
■■ Evidence to suggest that crime
is suppressed
■■ Keeps subjects off the street and
reduces pro-criminal association
■■ Helps avoid peer pressure to
offend
■■ Restricts opportunities to offend
■■ Curfews can be tailored to
interrupt offending patterns
Rehabilitation of Offenders
Curfews with EM are flexible and
allow opportunities for employment
and education; they provide structure
and can work in conjunction with
other requirements to assist with
rehabilitation:
■■ Help increase compliance with
the intervention designed to
aid rehabilitation
■■ Allow time and space for other
interventions to work
■■ Allow time and space for the
offender to establish an
alternative pro-social lifestyle
■■ Provide structure and discipline
for the chaotic offender
■■ Encourage long-term changes
through enforcing short-term
cessation of offending
■■ Targeted curfew hours facilitate
attendance at other requirements
■■ Help improve family relationships
■■ Flexible enough to cater for study
and employment commitments
 2. Changing Lives

Having been in and out of prison a number of times since the age of 32, Simon believes
that being on tag has helped him enormously. In fact, he actually wrote to the judge
“The idea to open His friend, who had supported Simon
throughout, agreed to let Simon use one
who put him on tag to thank her for allowing him to “make a fresh start.” a car washing and of the units to run his business from. He
also lent Simon a small amount of cash
Profile
valet service came to start up. Simon arranged business
Name: Simon Rutherford after I thought why meetings at his house starting at 8pm,
so he would be in for his curfew.
Age: 45
Region: North West
should people drive Equipment was purchased, flyers
Order type: Multi-requirement Community Order three extra miles into produced and signs created. Within
four weeks of the initial idea ‘Finishing
town for this, when Touch’ was up and running.
Simon acknowledges that the majority of
his offences stemmed from alcohol and his
“I realised who my I can run one from Every week Simon valets the minibus
quick temper. He admits he would regularly real friends were – here that is more of the local elderly people’s home free
of charge and allows other local
drink to excess, causing him to become
violent and often leading to fighting some were only there convenient businesses to advertise at his unit, also
free of charge. He is now hoping to
and his arrest. Many of Simon’s offences
involved assaulting a police officer.
for the moment, but for people.” branch out by opening a convenience

For his latest offence, Simon was

true friends have store in the unit next to his car washing
and valeting business.
expecting to receive another custodial stuck around.”
sentence. However, the judge told him
that custody clearly wasn’t working Throughout his curfew period, Simon
“Being on tag has
for him and gave him an electronically attended weekly meetings with his allowed me to build
monitored curfew order instead. This
was to run concurrent with probation
probation officer and carried out unpaid
work as part of his multi-requirement order.
strong relationships
supervision and included 120 hours’
He also attended anger management with my family and
unpaid work, and attendance at an
alcohol awareness programme.
sessions and an alcohol course to address
some of his issues. In fact, since being on
friends - I wouldn’t
Simon’s elderly mother was initially very tag, Simon has become teetotal. recommend prison to
apprehensive about his curfew, but when
Simon explained it would keep him out
One day, Simon was helping a friend who anyone. Being on tag
owned some units on an industrial estate
of prison, she was extremely relieved.
and started to think about setting up his has helped me sort
Simon’s 8pm curfew meant he was no
longer able to go out drinking in the
own business: my head out and get
evenings or mix with certain friends:
my life on track.”

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 3. How Electronic Monitoring Works
Electronic monitoring equipment is used to check whether a subject is at the
specified address during the hours of their curfew.
How the equipment works:
Curfew with EM can be a significant
punishment for offenders:
■■ A tag is fitted to the subject’s ankle
(or wrist if there is a proven
medical condition)
■■ The tag is a transmitter sending
signals to the home monitoring unit
located at the specified address
■■ The home monitoring unit sends
information to the EMS Monitoring
Centre using the mobile phone
network - there is no need for a
separate phone line
■■ The home monitoring unit has a
corded handset so EMS can ring the
home monitoring unit to contact the
subject, and the subject can lift the
handset and press one button to
contact EMS, 24 hours a day, every
day of the year
■■ The EMS computer-based monitoring
system alerts EMS to any event
that constitutes a breach of the
curfew. EMS staff will then call the
subject’s home monitoring unit
and, if necessary, visit the subject’s
specified address
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The tag and home monitoring unit
■■
have unique serial numbers. On
installation, these numbers are linked
to the subject and are updated if
any equipment is added, removed or
replaced by EMS
■■ Where required, larger properties are
monitored by installing multiple home
monitoring units
■■ The home monitoring unit and tag
have tamper mechanisms and will
report any tamper event to EMS
■■ Any tamper that interferes with
the functioning of the equipment is
always detectable, will constitute a
breach and will be acted upon
■■ EMS monitors all activity of the tag
and the home monitoring unit 24
hours a day, every day of the year
■■ EMS will report any breach to the
relevant authorities when required
Predictive dialler system: Reliability of the equipment:
■■ The EMS predictive dialler system ■■ The technology used (radio frequency
automatically calls the home transmissions) has been proven to be
monitoring unit if a subject is not at reliable over many years
their specified address at the start
■■ The monitoring equipment is
of their curfew, or appears to have
extremely robust and reliable and
left the specified address during the
meets the stringent specifications
hours of their curfew
laid down by the Ministry of Justice.
■■ The home monitoring unit will ring for The monitoring equipment is also
a minimum of 27 seconds rigorously tested and audited by EMS,
an independent body, and the Home
■■ If the call is unanswered, the EMS
Office Scientific Branch
monitoring system will record “Called
No Answer By Predictive Dialler”. ■■ Tags are waterproof and having a
If the call is answered, the person bath, shower or swimming will not
answering the call is connected to a interfere with monitoring
member of the EMS Monitoring Centre
■■ Considerable effort is required to
break the strap of a tag - it cannot be
Events:
done accidentally (straps for youth
■■ If the tag is not present at the
subjects are designed to break at a
specified address at the start of the
load of 25 - 30kg; adult subjects at a
subject’s curfew, the EMS monitoring
load of 25 - 40kg)
systems will display an “Out Past
Curfew” event and the predictive ■■ The tag is designed so that once
dialler will call the subject’s home fitted it can only be removed by
monitoring unit deliberately cutting the strap - tags
do not simply fall off
■■ If a subject returns home after
the start of their curfew, the EMS ■■ People wearing tags can still ride a
monitoring system will display a bike, play football, rugby, etc without
“Return Home Late” event. EMS staff the risk of pulling off the tag
will then call the subject’s home
monitoring unit to investigate the ■■ The tag strap will not stretch by more
reason for the absence than 5% of the original length - this is
not enough length to slip off the
Monitoring range: ankle or wrist
■■ When the monitoring equipment is
installed, it is adjusted to ensure the
subject can go anywhere within the
specified address without going
out of range
■■ Unless otherwise specified on the
curfew order, the subject will be
ranged from the front door to the
back door and for all internal living
space of the specified address
 Tamper mechanisms and back-up:
■■ Any tamper that interferes with
the functioning of the equipment is
always detectable, will constitute a
breach, and will be acted upon
■■ The monitoring equipment is fitted
with a number of anti-tamper
mechanisms. This means that removal
or attempted removal of the tag,
damage to or movement of the home
monitoring unit, or unplugging the
home monitoring unit from the mains
power, are all automatically reported
to EMS
■■ In the event of a loss of mains power,
the home monitoring unit has a
backup battery, which will allow
the unit to function normally for
up to 36 hours; the loss of power is
automatically reported to EMS
■■ The tag strap contains fibre optic
cables. If the strap is cut or forcibly
removed, the fibre optic cables are
broken and this will transmit a tamper
alert to EMS
■■ The tag strap cannot be removed
without physical signs of
forced removal
■■ If the tag is tampered with outside
the specified address, the tamper
message is transmitted to EMS as
soon as the tag comes back into the
range of the home monitoring unit
■■ When the equipment is installed,
test calls are made to ensure the
home monitoring unit has a mobile
phone signal
■■ If the home monitoring unit loses its
mobile phone signal, the subject’s
compliance with the curfew is still
recorded in the unit’s memory. These
details are transmitted to EMS as soon
as the signal returns so all events will
still be monitored and recorded
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Rigorous enforcement:
■■ Any tamper that interferes with
the functioning of the equipment is
always detectable, will constitute a
breach, and will be acted upon
■■ Any other breach of curfew is
similarly reported promptly to the
relevant criminal justice agency and
acted upon as appropriate:
o Community Order breaches are
reported to and enforced by the
relevant agency (i.e. NPS, CRC
or YOT)
o Bail Curfew breaches are
immediately reported to the
Police; the Police may then arrest
“My mum was mortified; she wouldn’t
the subject and return
them to court
o HDC breaches are dealt with by
the Public Protection Casework
Section (PPCS) and the subject
may be recalled to prison
■■ In all breach cases, the relevant
agency will be fully supported
with evidence and advice
provided by EMS
“My mates are a crazy bunch but we never
4. Changing Lives
Being on tag was a chance for Sarah to look at her own life and focus on the direction
she wanted to go in. She quit drugs and joined a volunteer group.
Profile
Name: Sarah Manchester
Age: 18
Order type: Single requirement Community Order
Sarah pleaded guilty to her public
order offences and was given a 100-day
electronically monitored curfew.
come to court, she couldn’t even look
at me. Dad was OK about it really. He
knew I was sorry and he knew I was
being punished with the tag. My brother
and two sisters were really awful to me –
you’d think I’d killed someone! I think it’s
because I am the youngest – I guess
I am a bit spoilt at times.”
In the past Sarah went to college during
the days and hung out with her mates in
the evenings and at weekends.
did anything mega. We just had a few
drinks and dabbled with drugs.”
Whilst Sarah was on curfew, she had
plenty of time to think about how she
had let both herself and her family down
and the direction her life was heading.
She knew she had to quit her recreational
drugs use and, with the help of her sister,
she developed a much healthier lifestyle.
Sarah completed her order despite a set
back in September when she breached
her curfew. Sarah had been on tag for
over a month and the initial shock of the
punishment was beginning to wear off.
Being very late home at the start of her
curfew resulted in Sarah being breached
and she received a summons to reappear
at court. Once again Sarah realised that
she had let herself and her family down.
The summons was the sharp shock that
Sarah needed to get back on track and
she went on to successfully complete
her curfew.
Being on tag had a longer term impact
on Sarah’s life - she was one of twelve
young volunteers who went on a
three-week trip to Bulgaria, where they
refurbished a run-down orphanage.
“Whilst being on tag I would sit and talk
to my parents about what I wanted to do
with my life. Dad suggested that I joined
the Prince’s Trust. When the project came
up to help the children’s orphanage in
Bulgaria I knew it was something I wanted
to do. It was an amazing experience, just
to see how happy the children were with
the work that had been carried out. It
makes you appreciate much more what
we have.”
Sarah has completely kicked her drug
habit and hasn’t re-offended. She still
lives with her parents, is continuing her
studies and hopes to go to university.
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 5. Myth Busting 5. Myth Busting

These tagging myths have done the rounds with subjects, the press and criminal The Myth The Myth
justice professionals. Customers still come to us with enquiries about stories they have “In a recent session a An offender I was
heard, concerned that they may be true and unable to counteract them with the facts. young offender boasted working with would
to other offenders in go out during curfew
When sentencing offenders, being equipped with the knowledge to dismiss such the group that they hours but claim to be
untruths is essential. We have therefore collated some examples of the questions had stretched the strap in the bath. Is it true
we answer regularly: by heating it with a hairdryer until they that the signal is disrupted
could slip the tag off. Is that possible?” by having a shower or a bath?”
The Myth The Myth Source: Youth Offender Worker Source: Offender Manager, Probation
“I have had offenders in “I read a funny story
breach courts claiming in the press about “An offender in my caseload was The Facts
that the tag had got someone who took breached for tampering with their tag ■■ Tags are waterproof and having a
trapped in the pedal their tag off, put it on strap, claiming it had stretched during shower or bath does not interfere
when riding a bike and the dog and went out. a hot bath. I allowed them to plead ‘not with monitoring
had come off, or that What would stop them guilty’ in court because as far as I knew
it was possible.” ■■ In a few cases, cast iron baths can
the tag had been pulled putting it on another person?”
interfere with the tag’s signal, but
off while playing football.” Source: Police Sergeant in a regional Source: Offender Manager at a
it is extremely rare that the signals
Source: Magistrate during a visit CJ meeting Probation workshop
are totally blocked
to our Monitoring Centre
The Facts The Facts
■■ As part of the installation process,
The Facts ■■ Tags cannot be removed without ■■ This is not possible as the strap
we specifically test to see if the
■■ The tag is designed so that once the system reporting it to our is made from material that is
bath affects monitoring and adjust
correctly fitted, it can only be Monitoring Centre designed to stretch no further
the placement of the monitoring
removed by applying immense than 5% of the original length. This
■■ If someone did remove the tag unit accordingly to resolve
force to break the strap or by would not provide enough length
and place it on their dog, for any issues
deliberately cutting the strap off to slip the tag off the ankle or wrist
example, we would know that the ■■ If the problem reoccurred and it
■■ Tags do not simply fall off
tag had been removed and take was not possible for the person
enforcement action to have a bath or shower outside
The Myth
“You can wrap tin of curfew hours, we would take
foil round your tag revocation action. However, we
The Myth are not aware of any instances
so it can’t send signals.”
“The monitoring unit has a battery backup, so you can move the where we have ever had to take
unit anywhere you like.” Source: Subject
revocation action because
Source: Subject The Facts of a bath
The Facts ■■ If a subject used anything to block
■■ The monitoring unit has numerous tamper alerts. If anyone
the radio signal, the monitoring
attempted to move the unit, this would be flagged to our unit would simply not receive any
Monitoring Centre and enforcement action taken transmissions from the tag and
would alert the Monitoring Centre
that the subject was out

■■ This would achieve nothing for the

subject, as they would be showing
as out even though they were
actually in!

12 13
 5. Myth Busting
The Myth
“Culprits are often
using cigarette lighters
to burn the band
attaching the device
to their leg.”
Source: Daily Mail
“A resident in the hostel I was in while
on tag, used a cigarette lighter to
remove his tag. What is to stop me
doing that?”
Source: Subject
The Facts
■■ Tags are designed to be removed
with the use of a sharp instrument
■■ While it may be possible to burn
through the strap with a cigarette
lighter or cigarette, the likelihood
of the wearer being burned in the
process would be high and the
tamper would still be reported
■■ Whether or not the strap is
successfully burned, once the
tag has been tampered with
or removed, the information is
immediately reported to our
Monitoring Centre
■■ We would take enforcement action
as a result of the tamper
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The Myth
“I know that tagging
now uses mobile
technology, rather
than landlines. But is
it true that if the
mobile signal strength
is low, it interferes with
the monitoring?”
Source: Magistrate during court
presentation
The Facts
■■ Mobile signal strengths only affect
our ability to download information
to our Monitoring Centre in real
time. They do not interfere with
monitoring
■■ Fluctuations are usually only for
short periods and our equipment
continues to monitor offenders
and store events. Once the mobile
signal is restored, the event
information is retrieved
and automatically sent to the
Monitoring Centre
6. Targeted Curfews
Curfews controlled by electronic Disrupting Offending
monitoring help bring much-needed A prolific shoplifter received a curfew
stability, structure and supervision, whilst order, which reduced her opportunity
still serving as a method of punishment to steal, but still allowed her to fulfil her
for those who have broken the law. family commitments. She was given
Most people tend to think of curfews two curfew periods of 9am to 2pm and
as a standard 7pm - 7am requirement. 4pm to 9pm. This kept her away from
In fact, 75% of curfews monitored by the shops, but gave her time to take her
EMS are in force at night for 7 nights of children to and from school.
the week, spanning a 12-hour period.
However, curfews can be used far more Multiple Addresses
creatively to help break offending
A 14-year-old was given a curfew at
patterns and behaviours, or support
two addresses on alternative week days
other requirements.
and weekends to fit around his parent’s
Curfew hours can be broken up in any custody arrangements.
way; curfew days can be alternated
and can also change week by week. By
Summary
varying the times, days and length of the
curfew, it is possible to establish a more Curfews do serve as an effective
targeted approach to best control the punishment, while helping to bring about
behaviour of the subject. change in a subject’s life.
Through careful targeting of the
The examples below briefly detail cases curfew hours, by varying the times,
where curfews with EM have been used days and length, curfews can have
in a targeted way. an even greater impact.
Supporting Other Requirements
Recommending a curfew the night before
an unpaid work session or programme
to enforce a routine can help aid
compliance. It ensures the offender is at
home throughout the night and therefore
more likely to get a good night’s sleep
and attend the next day.
Protecting Victims
In a harassment case a subject was
curfewed between 8am and 10am,
between 11.30am and 1.30pm and again
from 4pm until 6pm. This gave his victim
some respite and allowed her to get
to work, have her lunch and get home
without being bothered by him.
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 Contact Details
For more information or to arrange free
training on any aspect of Electronic
Monitoring, please email
enquiries@ems.co.uk
or call 0161 862 1000

EMS
PO Box 170
Urmston
Manchester
M41 7XZ
MN04/01/Oct2016

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