This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Electronic monitoring contract
10/01/2005
The Executive's electronic monitoring contract with
Reliance Monitoring Services Ltd has been extended for one
year to March 31, 2006.
The contract for adult offenders, which was initially
for three years but included two one-year options for
extensions, has also been broadened to cover:
- Electronic monitoring for some accused as a
condition of bail, which will be piloted and subject to
an independent evaluation
- Electronic monitoring of under 16s, as an
alternative to secure accommodation, as part of the
Antisocial Behaviour Act 2003
Meanwhile, Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson also
announced that the Executive is to undertake a competitive
tendering exercise for a new contract to deliver electronic
monitoring services, to come into force on April 1,
2006.
The Minister said:
"Electronic monitoring of offenders plays an important
part in the criminal justice system, working alongside
other measures to help tackle crime and to make our
communities a safer place to live and work.
"These orders are not a soft option but a smart option,
bringing together punishment and rehabilitation.
"Tagging restricts people to their homes to punish them
for a crime and limits the opportunities for re-offending,
while offering them the stability of remaining with their
family, who can give support to help break an offending
lifestyle.
"In the past year, we have announced that we will extend
the use of electronic monitoring.
"Firstly, to enable courts to impose this as a condition
of bail in appropriate cases where an offender might
otherwise have been remanded.
"And secondly, we have brought in provisions in the
Antisocial Behaviour Act for electronic monitoring to be
used as part of a broad range of intensive support services
for those under 16s, eligible for placement in secure
accommodation.
"Today I can confirm that following careful
consideration, the Executive has decided to extend the
existing contract with Reliance Monitoring Services Ltd for
a further year and that this will cover the pilot areas for
electronic monitoring as a condition of bail and the new
youth justice provisions.
"Meanwhile, we will also shortly begin tendering for a
new electronic monitoring contract that will come into
force from April 1, 2006."
The Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995 makes
provision for the court to impose a Restriction of Liberty
Order and provides for the use of electronic monitoring
equipment to monitor offenders' compliance with the terms
of RLOs.
The 1995 Act also makes provision for electronic
monitoring to be imposed as a condition of a probation
order or Drug Treatment and Testing Order. The Anti Social
Behaviour (Scotland) Act 2003 amended the 1995 Act to allow
for electronic monitoring of offenders under 16.
Section 17 of the Criminal Procedure (Amendment)
(Scotland) Act 2004 inserts section 24A into the 1995 Act
and provides that in cases where a person has been refused
bail, the court, on that person's application, shall
consider whether restricting their movements by electronic
monitoring would enable them to be released on bail.
This only comes into play when a court has considered
and rejected the option of bail and concluded that the
person should be remanded in custody.
The provisions also enable the court to impose remote
monitoring restrictions, without an application from the
accused, in cases involving rape and murder charges. This
will only be used to tighten the conditions attached to the
granting of bail rather than allow an accused person to be
released on bail when he would otherwise be remanded.
The Executive intends to pilot and evaluate electronic
monitoring for bail, after which Ministers will take
decisions on whether to roll this out.
As stated above, it has been agreed that the current RMS
contract will be extended for one year.
It has also been agreed that youth justice services
should be included in the contract because running the two
elements concurrently will offer economies of scale,
including savings of between £1m and £3.5m to the public
purse.
The budget for the coming financial year is estimated to
be:
- Up to £6m for adult community justice services
- £2.2m for youth justice services