Electronic tagging scandal...
Three people have been arrested during an investigation by the police into the alleged misuse of the electronic ankle tags that are used to monitor curfews imposed on criminals by the courts.
The investigation came to be after allegations serviced that employees of Electronic Monitoring Service (EMS) were intentionally fitting devices loosely enough to be removed, in exchange for monetary payments.
It is believed that because of this, some offenders were able to pull off the tags and go out for the night when they should have been indoors under curfew.
EMS said in a statement that it was an "isolated issue". The Ministry of Justice said it was urgently investigating. The Metropolitan Police said that two current and one former member of EMS staff have been arrested and a further 11 people who have never worked for the company have also been questioned.
An EMS spokesperson added: "We have a zero tolerance policy against any of our employees who act in any way to undermine the robustness of the electronic monitoring service. The small number of employees being investigated regarding this isolated issue were swiftly taken off duties and we are closely co-operating with the Metropolitan Police Service."
