Ford to monitor booze bracelets

BOOZE bracelets - alerting police when offenders are drinking - will be piloted in London during the summer and Northern Ireland Justice Minister David Ford says he will be keeping an eye on its progress.
By The Newsroom
Published 9th Mar 2012, 15:02 BST

‘Sobrierty bracelets’ were pioneered in the US but the Greater London Authority (GLA) plans trialling the tags during the summer.

Asked if the Department of Justice (DoJ) here intended liaising with the GLA on the new technology Mr Ford said he would be monitoring the scheme.

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“On 11 February the GLA announced that they propose to undertake a pilot initiative, utilising a sobriety bracelet, for criminals convicted of serious alcohol related offences.

“Alcohol intake will be monitored using the bracelet and anyone found to be drinking will be rearrested, with the Court having the option of sending the offender to prison.

“It has been suggested that the pilot scheme will commence in Summer 2012 but this is dependant upon the necessary legislative changes being in place to provide the Courts with the authority to offer this type of disposal.

“I understand that legislative proposals are under consideration in Westminster.

The DoJ will monitor the position and the subsequent pilot scheme,” said Mr Ford.

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