The Metropolitan Police has started a pilot under which officers will no longer pursue electronic tag breaches lasting under an hour unless the person is judged a particular danger to the public, GB News reports.
Breach alerts will still be reviewed, but arrests will follow only where there are risk or safeguarding concerns. Offenders seen as most dangerous, including domestic abusers, will remain a priority. The force expects the change, due to run until the spring, to cut breaches needing a police response by more than 15%.
Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has said his officers handle more than 100 tag breaches a day and has voiced concern about pressure from the government's early release scheme. The Met said tying up officers for hours over minor lapses was a poor use of resources. The government said it would never put public safety at risk and pointed to tougher licence controls.
Source: GB News
