UK Justice and Home Affairs Committee publishes report on electronic monitoring

"The practice has come under legal scrutiny due to the lacking regulartory environment it operates in, with the ICO and multiple UK courts issuing findings against GPS tagging in immigration contexts. In addition to our ethical and legal concerns with tagging, the practice is ineffective at its stated purpose of reducing absconding and maintaining contact with migrants released on immigration bail."

"In its report, the Justice and Home Affairs Committee was especially concerned about the ineffective nature of electronic monitoring in immigration contexts, and the complete lack of evidence in support of the practice. It found that the (below listed) harms associated with electronic monitoring could could be dispoportionate, especially because the Immigration Bail Guidance and Immigration Act 2016 currently require that everyone released on immigration bail must be tagged, with only narrow exceptions."

"Negative effects to tagged individuals: electronic monitoring can severely impact the wellbeing of individuals and those around them. After surveying wearers of GPS Tags, Bail for Immigration Detainees found that they experience anxiety, stress, and pain; have increased feelings of social stigma and avoid public spaces and activities; and that GPS tags affect every aspect of their daily lives, including the abilities to exercise, sleep, work, and care for children. GPS tagging resulted in re-traumatization, and impeded recovery from existing physical and mental health conditions."

Electronic monitoring for immigration bail has faced legal scrutiny from the ICO and multiple UK courts and is ineffective at reducing absconding or maintaining contact with migrants. The Justice and Home Affairs Committee identified a complete lack of evidence supporting the practice and flagged disproportionate harms. Immigration Bail Guidance and the Immigration Act 2016 currently require tagging for almost everyone released on immigration bail, creating legal and ethical challenges. Electronic monitoring can severely harm wellbeing, causing anxiety, stress, pain, social stigma, avoidance of public spaces, disruption to daily life, re-traumatization, and impaired recovery. Informed consent is often absent or incomplete.

Read at privacyinternational.org