Electronic Tags

Electronic monitoring (known as ‘tagging’) is used in England and Wales to monitor curfews and conditions of a court or prison order. 

If you are given a tag, it will usually be attached to your ankle. A monitoring unit will also be installed in a place stated in your court or prison order (usually your home). 

If you breach your conditions you could be taken to court. The court can change your conditions, which could mean you are taken back into custody. 

Types of tag

There are 2 types of electronic tag: 

  • curfew tags 

  • location tags 

Which tag you get is decided by the court, prison governor or parole board. 

If you have a curfew tag 

A curfew tag checks if you are where you are meant to be during your curfew hours, for example your home. It will send an alert to a monitoring centre if you are not. 

If you have a location tag

A location tag records data about your movements at all times. It checks if you are: 

  • going to any areas you have been told not to go to by the court or prison 

  • going to appointments or other programmes that are part of your conditions 

  • sticking to your curfew 

Your responsible officer can use this information to support your good behaviour, or raise any concerns about where you have been going. 

Your responsible officer will either be a police officer or your probation officer.  

You must charge your location tag for at least 1 hour every day. 

If your tag runs out of battery this is a potential breach and you could be taken to court or into custody. 

Contact the Electronic Monitoring Service (EMS) 

If you have any problems or questions about your electronic tag, contact EMS:

Electronic Monitoring Service 

Telephone: 0800 137 291 

Find out about call charges 

You can also call EMS from the monitoring unit free of charge. 

Further information on electronic tags can be found on GOV.UK's website.