Tynwald will be asked to approve two new legal instruments that will prepare the way for the use of electronic monitoring as a condition of bail.
The legal framework would see persons over the age of 18 wear an electronic tag as part of their bail conditions while awaiting trial or sentencing.
The tag, usually worn around the ankle, uses technology to monitor a person’s location and ensure they follow rules such as staying in or to stay away from certain areas.
Tagging
Tags mean that a person’s location would be known 24/7, and if they breached their bail conditions, an appropriate response would be instigated via the dedicated monitoring service with escalation to the Emergency Service Joint Control Room or Police, if required.
The two instruments Tynwald will be asked to approve are:
- The Criminal Justice, Police and Courts (Electronic Monitoring: Responsible Persons) Order 2025, and
- The Criminal Justice, Police and Courts (Electronic Monitoring) Rules 2025.
Tagging would provide additional flexibility to the Courts, giving an alternative option when deciding whether someone should be held in custody or allowed to remain in the community under strict conditions, reserving custody for the most serious of offences.
On Bail
Minister for Justice and Home Affairs, Jane Poole-Wilson MHK, said: “I am pleased to be able to bring these instruments to Tynwald which form part of our plan to modernise our criminal justice system.
“Giving the Courts the option of electronic monitoring in appropriate cases, will allow an alternative option to custody that both supports public safety requirements and avoids disruption of employment and other supportive factors.
“This new option for bail will also offer an effective non-custodial remand option to assist with management of prison occupancy on a risk-based approach.”
Any person recommended for electronic monitoring as part of their bail conditions will be subject to rigorous risk assessment first.
If approved by Tynwald, these changes will lay the legal groundwork for Court bail electronic tagging to begin this year.
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