Met to scale back action on minor tag breaches amid police officer shortages

The Metropolitan Police is scaling back enforcement against some offenders who breach their electronic tag conditions. Under a pilot scheme running until the spring, officers in London will not routinely respond to curfew breaches or flat tag batteries that last under an hour. Cases will only lead to possible arrest if there are safeguarding concerns, repeated offending, or a heightened risk to the public. High-risk offenders, including domestic abusers, will still be prioritised. The force introduced the change as staff face mounting pressures linked to the Government's early prisoner release programme.