Ministers face demands to “come clean” on a decision to introduce a new alcohol monitoring device for offenders despite the current model having a near to 100 per cent success rate, reports BritPanorama.
Tory shadow justice secretary Nick Timothy has asked for the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) to publish evidence supporting the change in model for alcohol tags, which is closely linked to the controversial early release scheme and attempts to tackle domestic abuse and reoffending.
Since the national rollout began in 2020, the current tags manufactured by SCRAM Technologies have been used under court orders and on prison release licence conditions to prevent alcohol abuse recidivism. The MoJ’s own statistics showed that offender compliance rates were in excess of 97 per cent.
However, the MoJ’s supplier contracted for the device, Allied Universal Electronic Monitoring (AUEM), has started to introduce their own model since October 2025. A Whitehall insider has raised concerns with The Independent that the new device has not been properly tested on a live offender cohort, although the MoJ claims it “will transmit data about the wearer’s alcohol intake more quickly.”
This development intensifies scrutiny on the MoJ to publish supporting evidence for the change and demonstrate that the new technology meets the same standards of safety, reliability, enforceability, and value for money as the current device.
The concerns have been echoed by the Tory opposition. Mr Timothy stated: “It is concerning that Labour seem to be moving away from a technology that has a successful track record.”
He added, “We need assurances from the Ministry of Justice that these new tags have been properly tested. Labour should come clean now and publish the evidence behind this decision.”
The issue is significant as alcohol use monitoring is part of the early release scheme introduced by Labour to combat overcrowding in jails. More than 70,000 prisoners have been released early under this scheme, which permits release when a prisoner has served 40 per cent of their sentence.
It is estimated that around 20 per cent of those on probation have drinking problems, though not all of them have alcohol tags. Moreover, drinking problems are directly linked to broader social challenges, with 28 per cent of rough sleepers believed to have alcohol addiction issues.
A leading charity has also raised concerns about the new devices, highlighting a lack of consultation despite offers made to the MoJ. Alcohol Change chief executive Dr Richard Piper disputed the 97 per cent figure as a reliable success indicator, arguing that true success should reflect longer-term behavioral changes post-tag removal.
Dr Piper noted, “A better success rate would consider the attitudinal and behavioural changes that would indicate genuine change longer-term—once the tag is removed. No data is published on what happens after the tags are removed. This needs to change.”
Allied Universal (AUEM), which took over the controversial G4S group in 2021, was awarded the contract for these alcohol tags in October 2023 following a full procurement process. An MoJ spokesperson responded, stating: “Alcohol tags force problem drinkers away from the source of their offending, that’s why we’re investing £100 million in the biggest expansion of tagging in UK history. Allied Universal were awarded a contract to supply alcohol tags after a full tender process. The new tag has undergone thorough testing and will be simpler to install, smaller, and faster than its predecessor.”
As discussions unfold, the balance between innovation in monitoring technology and the need for proven effectiveness in managing offenders remains a focal point for policymakers and stakeholders alike.
