Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner Matt Storey has written to the Secretary of State for Justice, Shabana Mahmood MP, to highlight his concerns around a recent Dispatches investigation.
The PCC has concerns about the findings of Channel 4’s Dispatches report, which focused heavily on the Cleveland area, and how the electronic tagging system is implemented and monitored.
Mr Storey, who is also chair of the Cleveland Local Criminal Justice Board (LCJB), says assertions made in the programme highlight serious failings in the electronic monitoring of offenders.
Two Dispatches reporters went undercover to work at the Electronic Monitoring Service (EMS) and reveal the true impact of the tagging system.
In the letter, he said he firmly backs the expansion of electronic monitoring but is calling for urgent reassurance from the government.
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He said: “Time and again, we see high-value contracts awarded to low-cost bidders with histories of underperformance – even fraud – ultimately placing further strain on the very communities these services are meant to protect.
“I urge Government departments to end the practice of awarding contracts for essential public services to private companies that prioritise profit over the quality of service.
“We must restore accountability and service provision to local public sector, voluntary and community organisations.”
The Labour politician has raised concerns about technology standards, contract oversight and a backlog reduction.
