Crooks ‘bribed security staff to escape from ankle tags in curfew scam’ as one con is arrested for ‘attempted murder’ after freeing himself from tracker
Workers at suppliers Capita were allegedly paid to fit the electronic tracker devices too loosely
DOZENS of crooks are suspected of giving bungs to security staff so they could escape from their ankle tags.
It was feared that workers at suppliers Capita had been paid thousands of pounds to fit the electronic tracker devices too loosely.
The cons — who were subject to strict court curfews — were able to pull off the tags and go out for the night, fooling the monitoring gear into thinking they were at home.
But the trick was rumbled after one offender was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder when he was meant to be under curfew.
Detectives believe staff took up to £400 a time to help at least 32 offenders beat overnight curfews. But there are fears many more may have been involved.
Scotland Yard is probing the claims and has made 14 arrests.
Eleven of those held are thought to be criminals who are believed to have benefited from the ruse.
The other three are staff from outsourcing firm Capita — which has a six-year £400million deal to tag offenders.
The two men and a woman have been quizzed on conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
One is believed to be Martin Crean, of Romford, East London.
It is understood his home was raided and he was also held on suspicion of the theft of tagging equipment and bailed until April.
Sources say Mr Crean, 46, worked for Capita for two years but was recently sacked.
His mother told The Sun: “I had better give Martin a call. I am going to close the door now thank you.”
Two other Capita staff — a man, 45, from Barking, and a woman, 57, from Romford, have also been bailed until April.
A source said: “The allegation is a number of Capita staff were fitting the tags so loosely that criminals could take them off at night and go out. It only came to light after one guy who was meant to be on a tag went out and was arrested for attempted murder.”
The Ministry of Justice said it was “urgently investigating”.
Tory MP Bob Neill, chairman of the Commons Justice Committee, said: “The idea of corruption among those in charge of tagging operations jeopardises the public’s faith in the system itself.
“I hope the Ministry of Justice will be putting a freeze on future contracts with Capita at this time.”
David Burrowes, a member of the Commons Home Affairs Committee, said: “Victims of offending, who are of course taxpayers, expect tagging to enforce a loss of liberty — not a licence to go out and do what you want.”
Scotland Yard said detectives in the London borough of Newham are investigating offences involving the monitoring of offenders.
He added: “Police had become aware that equipment was being used inappropriately.”
A spokeswoman for Capita said: “We have a zero-tolerance policy against any of our employees who act in any way to undermine the robustness of the electronic monitoring service.
“The small number of employees being investigated regarding this isolated issue were swiftly taken off duties and we are closely co-operating with the Metropolitan Police.”