Youth
Extension to Teenage Tagging
From 1 June 2002, courts across England & Wales will be able to use electronic tagging as a condition of bail for 12 - 16 year olds. The option has been available to courts in the 10 Street Crime Areas (SCAs) since April 2002, but has since been rolled out across the country. In a further extension to the scheme, courts in the 10 SCAs are able to use tags as a condition of bail for offenders up to the age of 17 years from 8 July 2002.
Electronic tagging for juveniles on bail enables courts to impose extra sanctions on those youths who they believe are likely to commit further offences whilst out on bail. If a court decides to impose a bail condition for a young person to stay at home at certain times, the technology is available to alert the monitor instantly if the person leaves the house. This will help keep the offender – or the alleged offender – at home at times they might normally be offending, whilst enabling them to continue with their education, training or employment.
The measures were implemented initially the 10 Street Crime Areas: Inner London, Greater Manchester, West Midlands, Thames Valley, Avon and Somerset, Lancashire, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Merseyside and Nottinghamshire, plus Northumbria on 22 April 2002. Bail tagging for 17 year olds in these areas will be implemented on 8 July.
Last update: 15/09/03