Prison tagging delays: Survivor waits months for GPS device

Michelle, 38, moved her four children into a static caravan after being told by council officials to leave their rented home. Her former partner, who was released from prison on October 15, has not yet been fitted with a GPS tracking device. Relatives now sleep on her floor to guard against a repeat of the violence she experienced in 2024.

The woman described the situation as terrifying because the man had previously breached probation terms. He was recalled to prison for 56 days in July 2025 and again in August 2025. On both occasions, he had been photographed at parties and pubs in towns where he was ordered to stay away. Michelle reported these breaches, leading to his return to custody before his final release this month.

Police told Michelle that a GPS tag would be fitted to monitor his movements upon his release. No device has been attached weeks later. The delay follows a report released on Thursday by chief inspectors for probation and prisons. The document states that nearly half of offenders are not tagged promptly after leaving prison. In one in 10 cases, the device is fitted up to five months after release.

The private contractor Serco is responsible for fitting these devices after offenders are released. The inspectors found that Serco met its performance targets by attempting to fit the devices, rather than confirming they were actually installed and working. A major cause for missing tags was that offenders were not at their agreed addresses when contractors arrived. This issue accounted for one third of the 5,000 criminals in the community who currently lack tags.

Michelle was first assaulted by her former partner in early 2024. He punched her in the face and was arrested. The next day, he kicked in her front door and threatened her with a knife. Her 16-year-old son at the time had to intervene to pull the man off her. He was convicted of two counts of assault by beating and one count of affray in November 2024. He received a 38-month sentence.

Vikki Slade, the Liberal Democrat MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole, raised the case in parliament on Monday. She questioned why domestic violence survivors with children were not receiving more protection. Slade said it was crazy that people were still being released from prisons without a tag. The prison officers' union, POA, has written to justice secretary Alex Norris. Their national chair, Mark Fairhurst, proposed that the government train prison officers to fit and activate electronic tags before prisoners are freed.

The Ministry of Justice stated that it is taking tough decisions to fix a justice system inherited in crisis. The department said it is expanding electronic monitoring to tag more offenders before they leave prison gates. A Serco spokesperson said the firm attempts to fit a device to every person required to wear one. If a device cannot be fitted, or if conditions are breached, the individual is reported to the relevant authorities for further action.