Police to Reduce Enforcement of Minor Tag Breaches
The Metropolitan Police in London is set to reduce enforcement of minor tag breaches under a new pilot scheme. The decision comes as the police force faces resourcing pressures, partly due to the government's early prisoner release system which began this year. The scheme will see officers not act on breaches of police curfews or tag batteries of under an hour, unless the offender is considered a high risk to the public.
The Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, has expressed concerns about the pressure caused by the early release scheme. He stated that his officers are dealing with over 100 tag breaches a day, with two or three early release prisoners being arrested per week for further offending. The new pilot scheme aims to reduce breaches requiring police action by over 15% by prioritizing high-risk offenders and persistent offenders.
This move is part of a broader trend in the UK and the US, where there are efforts to reduce policing of minor infractions and focus on more serious crimes. In Maryland, a similar proposal is being debated in the state legislature, which would end traffic stops for minor, non-safety violations such as expired tags or broken taillights.
