Michelle, a 38-year-old mother of four, is currently living in a static caravan with her family after being forced to flee her home. She describes her situation as one of terror because her former partner, who previously punched her, threatened her with a knife, and kicked in her front door, has not been fitted with a tracking device weeks after his release from prison. Relatives are now sleeping on her floor out of fear that the man may attempt another attack.
The attacker, a crack cocaine user and father to Michelle's three-year-old son, was first arrested in early 2024 following an assault. The next day, he returned to their rented home, broke down the door, and threatened Michelle with a knife while her 16-year-old son intervened to stop him. He was convicted of two counts of assault by beating and one count of affray, receiving a 38-month prison sentence in November 2024. Upon his release in February 2025, he was ordered to stay away from Michelle's home and the town where she resides.
Despite these restrictions, the man breached his probation conditions multiple times in July, April, and August of this year. Photos uploaded by him and his friends showed him attending parties and pubs in towns where he was banned. Michelle reported two of these breaches, leading to his recall to prison for 56 days on both occasions. He was released again on October 15, with police liaison officers assuring Michelle that a GPS tag would be fitted to monitor his movements. However, no tag has been installed, leaving her worried he could attack her home, harm her now 18-year-old son, or abduct her toddler.
Michelle is among hundreds of domestic violence survivors questioning why electronic trackers are not fitted before offenders leave prison. Currently, the private-sector firm Serco is contracted to fit these devices after release. Michelle argues that tags should be applied inside prison before inmates walk out the door, stating that authorities seem to be waiting for a tragedy to occur before acting.
A report released on Thursday by chief inspectors for probation and prisons reveals that nearly half of offenders are not tagged promptly upon release. In one in ten cases, a device is fitted up to five months later. The watchdog noted that Serco has been deemed to have met performance targets by attempting to fit devices rather than ensuring they are actually installed and functional. A primary reason for the delay is that offenders are not at their agreed addresses when contractors arrive, accounting for a third of the 5,000 criminals in the community without tags.
In response to these issues, the Prison Officers' Association (POA) has written to Justice Secretary Alex Norris, suggesting that prison officers be trained to fit and activate electronic tags before prisoners are freed. Mark Fairhurst, the national chair of the POA, argued in a letter this month that given the documented performance issues and the need for public protection, there is a compelling case for insourcing the work.
Vikki Slade, the Liberal Democrat MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole, raised Michelle's case in parliament on Monday, demanding greater protection for survivors with children. She described the practice of releasing people without tags as "utterly crazy." The Ministry of Justice stated that while they inherited a justice system in crisis due to underinvestment, they are taking tough decisions to fix it, including expanding electronic monitoring and tagging more offenders before they leave prison gates. A Serco spokesperson added that the firm attempts to fit devices to every required person and reports individuals to authorities if fitting is not possible or conditions are breached.
Sources: The Guardian World.