• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

MayorWatch

London News and Comment

  • NEWS

Sobriety tags trial to be extended across London

February 25, 2016 by Martin Hoscik

sobriety_tagLondon’s piloting of sobriety tags is to be expanded after initial results showed they were successful in 92 per cent of cases.

Courts in Croydon, Lambeth, Southwark and Sutton have been able to require offenders whose crimes are connected with alcohol to abstain from further drinking to stop re-offending.

Compliance is monitored by an ankle bracelet which samples perspiration every 30 minutes to test for alcohol consumption and alerts probation officers to any breach. Those found to be breaching their alcohol abstinence order can be returned to court for further sanctions.

Data published by City Hall today shows that 92 per cent of offenders subject to an order complied with the court’s conditions.

As a result the Ministry of Justice has agreed to part-fund an extension of the trial to allow courts across the capital to take part.

The MOJ will provide £400,000 towards the expended pilot with the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime contributing £450,000.
 
Justice Secretary Michael Gove said: “I am absolutely committed to reducing re-offending – so we can cut crime and better protect the public.
 
“By giving courts this new power and making the latest technology available, we are helping offenders understand the detrimental impact drinking alcohol can have on their behaviour.
 
“This innovative approach has delivered impressive results so far and we will be building on them with this this wider London roll out.”
 
Mayor of London Boris Johnson added: “Alcohol-fuelled crimes put a huge strain on frontline services, costing the taxpayer billions of pounds each year.
 
“From assault, to drink-driving, to theft and criminal damage, this innovative technology is driving down re-offending and proving rehabilitation does not have to mean prison.
 
“After such a success in South London, it’s time to roll out these tags to the rest of the capital and rid our streets of these crimes, by helping even more offenders stay off the booze and get back on the right track.”
 
                                                  

  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email

Filed Under: News

RECENT UPDATES

Tube and rail users to benefit from Oyster weekly fares cap

Mayor and TfL call on ministers to help plug funding gap

Tube to get full mobile phone coverage from 2024

TfL says Direct Vision Standard is already making HGVs safer for London road users




POPULAR

City Hall to move to Docklands as Mayor seeks to raise £55m for frontline services

‘Concern’ over TfL’s ability to deliver major projects in wake of Crossrail cost overruns

City Hall halts London Overground ticket office closures but many will still see opening hours reduced

Transport for London confirms bus cuts will go ahead despite passenger opposition

Copyright © 2025 · Terms of Use · Privacy Policy