Why offenders could be banned from drinking and ordered to wear special tags

Ankle tags will monitor an offender's sweat to check whether they have drunk alcohol after being served an ‘alcohol abstinence order’.

CRIME: Sheffield murder suspect released under investigation by police

If they drink, they could be hauled back to court for another punishment including a fine or jail.

APPEAL: Police search continues for missing Sheffield man

An estimated 39 per cent of violent crime involves an offender under the influence of alcohol, and the social and economic cost of alcohol-related harm is estimated to be £21.5 billion per year, according to the Ministry of Justice.

FUNDING: South Yorkshire Police-led project secures funding for another year to transform way police service works

Pilot schemes in Humberside, Lincolnshire, North Yorkshire and London indicated offenders were alcohol free on 97 per cent of the days monitored, the MoJ said, and they reported this having a ‘positive impact on their lives, wellbeing and behaviour’.

The plan, which will see courts order offenders to wear a tag for up to 120 days, is due to be rolled out across the country later this year.

The technology is said to be able to distinguish between alcohol-based products like hand sanitiser and can detect when contact between the skin and tag is blocked.

Crime, policing and justice minister Kit Malthouse said the tagging system will not only punish offenders but ‘can help turn their lives around’, adding: “Alcohol-fuelled crime blights communities and puts an unnecessary strain on our frontline services.

“While prison will always be the right place for many criminals, tough community sentences like this can help cut re-offending and protect the public.”