Summary

The United Kingdom’s SAI - the National Audit Office - conducted an audit of the electronic monitoring system for offenders in England and Wales. The audit covered the activities of the Ministry of Justice and HM Prison and Probation Service and assessed the system’s effectiveness, the quality of supplier management and its readiness to meet rising demand. As of March 2026, 28,700 people were recorded as electronically monitored, while the system’s annual direct cost was estimated at £133 million. The SAI found that the electronic monitoring system was not operating as intended, creating risks to public safety. Around 8,900 active cases, or 24% of the total, were under review to determine how many individuals were not actually being monitored. In 2025, devices were successfully fitted within the standard number of attempts in only 45% of cases. The auditors also identified poor data quality, delays in fitting devices and reporting breaches, shortages of police and probation staff, and fragmented system governance. The SAI recommended developing a system-wide approach to risk management, establishing clear performance indicators and escalation thresholds, improving data-sharing between public authorities, and creating a cross-government body to oversee the system. It also recommended completing the rollout of the new order management system, adopting a risk-based approach to handling breach alerts, and strengthening planning for future procurement of electronic monitoring services.