Prisons minister James Timpson has announced that more offenders in the UK may soon be tagged rather than jailed. He emphasized that this approach does not mean he is “soft on crime.”
Today, over 30 companies, including tech giants Microsoft and Google, will meet with the government. They will discuss how technology can improve monitoring of offenders in the community and help reduce violence in prisons.
Timpson, a former CEO of the Timpson Group, said tagging is a realistic alternative to prison. Critics, however, have raised concerns over his past remarks describing the UK as “addicted” to punishment. He once said “only a third” of inmates should actually be behind bars.
“I don’t think I’m soft on crime at all,” Timpson told reporters. “I’m tough, but I follow the evidence. That’s true in business, and it’s true in this role.”
Timpson is deeply focused on rehabilitation efforts inside prisons. He noted that more than 26% of adult offenders in England and Wales reoffend within one year of release.
“How do we reduce reoffending? How do we address drug addiction and mental health issues? What about finding housing and jobs for people after prison?” he asked. “These are critical parts of my job.”
The UK prison system is under severe strain. Timpson took office last July, when prisons were near collapse due to overcrowding. Shortly afterward, thousands of inmates were released early under an emergency plan.
Currently, prisons in England and Wales hold over 88,000 people, with fewer than 1,000 empty cells available. Timpson pointed to HMP Millsike, a new facility in East Yorkshire that opened in March, as part of the government’s response.
“We need more prison spaces because the population is rising,” Timpson said.
Yet prison violence remains a major concern. Last month, three officers were severely injured at HMP Frankland in Durham. They were attacked by Hashem Abedi, one of the Manchester Arena bombers, using makeshift weapons and hot oil.
“The violence at Frankland was shocking,” Timpson said. “Violence in prisons is rising, and our staff face constant risk. I want them to feel safe and able to help inmates rebuild their lives.”
Official figures show that prison staff assaults hit a decade-high in 2024, with 10,605 incidents recorded.
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