Excerpt: # ...the extension of Restriction of Liberty Orders... # # There are also plans to use the orders as a condition of a # probation order or a drug treatment and testing order... http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/0,,10-2001221674,00.html # # THURSDAY JUNE 28 2001 # # All sheriff courts to have power to tag offenders # # BY GILLIAN HARRIS, SCOTLAND CORRESPONDENT # # POLITICIANS and community leaders gave a cautious welcome # yesterday to plans to increase the use of electronic tagging # of offenders. # # Every sheriff court in Scotland is to be given the option of # electronically monitoring offenders under a scheme announced # by the Scottish Executive. Iain Gray, the Deputy Justice Minister, # unveiled details of the move during a visit to General Security # Services Corporation Europe in East Kilbride. # # Pilot schemes are already under way in Hamilton, Aberdeen and # Peterhead and the firm has the contract to provide the electronic # monitoring service to Hamilton Sheriff Court. # # Mr Gray said 418 offenders had been electronically tagged since # the pilot scheme was launched in August 1998. He described the # initiative, which predominantly sees offenders limited to their # own home for up to 12 hours a day, as a success that should be # extended throughout Scotland. # # Donald Dickie, a senior manager with the community safety # organisation Safeguarding Communities Reducing Offending, welcomed # the move as an alternative to custody. He said that the prison # population in Scotland was too high and that not all offenders # need to be locked up. # # Mr Dickie also welcomed moves to use tagging for inmates released # from prison on licence and under supervision. He said: "It has # the potential to assist in helping people to lead stable lives." # # Roseanna Cunningham, the SNP's Shadow Justice Minister, gave # the announcement a muted welcome but expressed concerns that # no timescale had been given. She said: "I cautiously welcome # the announcement today by the Deputy Justice Minister that # Restriction of Liberty Orders will play a greater role in the # criminal justice system. # # "It is important, however, that these orders are used as a direct # alternative to custody as it makes a great deal of sense both # in terms of justice and in terms of cost." # # Phil Gallie, the Scottish Conservatives' justice spokesman, said # tagging should be used as an additional tool in the fight against # crime. He said: "Electronic tagging must not be an instrument # with which the Scottish Executive can empty our prisons. I have # always been an advocate for electronic tagging, however I never # envisaged that this would provide an easy option for criminals. # # "At all times our courts must ensure that punishment and # deterrence along with protection of the public stands as the # highest priority." # # Mr Gray said the extension of Restriction of Liberty Orders, # under which offenders are fitted with electronic transmitters # so monitoring authorities can keep track of their movements, # would take place once a competitive tendering exercise has been # completed. # # There are also plans to use the orders as a condition of a # probation order or a drug treatment and testing order and for # monitoring of prisoners released on licence under supervision # such as sex offenders. ---- Occasional double emails: I'll be off PSINet within a week.