Court trials electronic tagging

Tuesday 12 May 2020

Electronic tagging for islanders accused of crimes is being trialled on the island.

The 11-month pilot started this week.

It's one of a range of moves being considered to enhance public protection by Jersey's Criminal Justice Working Group (CJWG), but has been accelerated as part of efforts to reduce the prison population due to the covid-19 pandemic.

It aims to ensure that defendants adhere to their bail conditions, which can include curfews and restrictions on where they can go and who they can see.

Pictured: The tags will be used on defendants who might not otherwise be trusted on court bail.

At the moment, it is not being considered for use on suspects who have not been charged or offenders carrying out community service - only defendants in court cases with bail conditions.

Confirming that the first tag was fitted yesterday, and Detective Superintendent Stewart Gull said the scheme would allow defendants "whom the court might otherwise trust sufficiently" to release on bail to avoid being placed in custody before their case is heard.

He added that he hoped the tagging would provide an "additional safeguard for Islanders, witnesses and complainants".

News of the initiative comes after the Home Affairs Minister signed off on a decision to release non-violent offenders 'on licence' in order to curb the prison population and help prevent an outbreak of covid-19 at HMP La Moye.

Pictured top: The type of electronic tag being used in Jersey.