£98m wasted on failed upgrade of offender tagging system, say auditors

Report says failings mean ministers still do not know if tagging criminals is helping to cut reoffending

A failed government plan to transform the system for electronically tagging offenders wasted 98m of taxpayers' money, Whitehall's spending watchdog has found.

The National Audit Office (NAO) said attempts to upgrade HM Prison & Probation Service's (HMPPS) tagging system were abandoned in March after 11 years and a net spend of 153m.