Following a successful trial in Wales, the Government has announced the launch of sobriety tags across England in a bid to tackle alcohol-fuelled crime.
Alcohol plays a part in 39 per cent of violent crime and is seen as one of the root causes of domestic violence and unprovoked attacks.
The new measures will mean that offenders who commit alcohol-driven crimes could be ordered to wear a sobriety tag that takes a sample of their sweat every 30 minutes and alerts the probation service if alcohol is detected. Anyone caught breaching the ban will face further court sentences and fines.
The sobriety tags can distinguish the difference between drinks and other types of alcohol such as hand sanitiser or perfume. They work 24/7 and can also tell if someone tries to block contact between the tag and their skin.
More than 100 offenders have been tagged since the scheme launched in Wales in October, with statistics showing that offenders were staying sober on over 95 per cent of the period monitored.
Offenders said the scheme also helped them to improve their health and lifestyle.
Minister for Crime and Policing, Kit Malthouse MP said: “These sobriety tags have already brought enormous benefit to Wales since they were introduced in October, with one offender I met saying it not only changed his ways but also saved his life.
“This smart and powerful new tool is helping the fight against alcohol-fuelled violence which ruins too many lives and families and creates mayhem in our town centres.”
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