World Cup booze ban enforced on 7,300 offenders through ankle tags | UK | News
The World Cup booze ban will be enforced on 7,300 offenders using high-tech wrist tags, the Ministry of Justice has said. Approximately 5,000 offenders have been tagged, while new orders will be issued for 2,300 offenders. Offenders who have been released from prison or are serving a community sentence are affected.
The tags work by analyzing the offender’s sweat for traces of alcohol, thus sending an alert to probation officers who can take action to punish them. While the devices can tell the difference between a criminal drinking and supporting their team from a bar or fan zone, they risk being sent to court or prison if caught.
These measures are being implemented as law enforcement agencies and regional councils prepare for increased pressure during the World Cup. It is well documented that alcohol often fuels outbursts of aggression, rowdy behavior and social chaos during major football events.
Ministers are counting on this technology to play a critical role in their mission to rid our streets of the scourge of drink-fuelled crime. Experts from the National Audit Office have warned that these chaotic outbreaks are currently costing the UK economy an eye-watering £21bn a year.
Since its initial launch in 2020, those undergoing court-ordered sobriety have successfully stayed off the bottle for an incredible 97% of their time under supervision. These high-tech devices are also used as a mandatory condition for criminals to be released from prison. Figures reveal roughly one in five offenders on probation are currently struggling with alcohol problems.
Lord Timpson, Minister for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending, said: “Major sporting events should be a time for the country to come together and enjoy the game, not for alcohol-fueled violence and mayhem to ruin the event.
“The fixation of this technology around the ankle is a wake-up call for criminals, leaving them with the sobering thought that one mistake could send them to prison.”
