Crimes being committed by tagged prisoners are increasing, according to a Conservative MP who is calling for an urgent review of the tagging system. When the scheme was introduced in 1999, one in 40 tagged prisoners committed a crime, but in 2006 that figure had jumped to one in nine, says a report by the MP, Grant Shapps.

?Whilst initial pilot schemes for electronic tagging appeared to demonstrate this was a cost-effective method of releasing prisoners from jail early, the research contained within my report indicates that the policy is now in disarray,? said Shapps.

?The scheme is now failing both the prisoners and the general public who are exposed to increased risks of crime.?

The report of the Welwyn and Hatfield MP concluded that the system was in need of urgent review. The Ministry of Justice said the rise was due to a change made to the scheme four years ago, when offenders were tagged for 135 days rather than 60 days. ?The re-offending rate has increased over recent years although it still reflects a very small percentage of those released on the scheme,? said a ministry spokeswoman.

?The increase in reported re-offending is mainly due to the increase in the maximum curfew period to 135 days which took place in 2003. ?Offenders are spending a longer period of time on the scheme and so an increase in offending committed during the curfew period is to be expected.?