| In response to the harsh criticism that the Sindh Government has received because of the alarming rise in crime in the province, the Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has approved a new plan which brings in several significant changes to the way policing takes place in the province. One of the proposed changes is the introduction of electronic tagging (e-tagging), which is a form of strategy surveillance that uses an electronic device affixed to a person released on bail or parole. Through this technology, the locations of crimes would be traced, leading to the bail of such offenders being cancelled. |
This is not a novel idea since it is a practice that has been adopted in several justice systems across the world. Research has shown that ankle bracelets, or other electronic monitoring devices, have been effective to some extent in deterring crime. However, while the effort to implement digital changes to the police plan is appreciated, the Sindh government must also understand that this will not just take the passing of the law.
Electronic monitoring cannot stop a restricted behaviour unless it is backed up by proper interest and checks by the law enforcement, may they be the police or social workers. There are a wide range of factors that go hand in hand in making such measures effective, including careful selection of offenders, robust and appropriate technology, proper and timely response to breaches, and a generally transparent and organised criminal justice system. There is international research that shows that where there is a shortage of staff, e-tag measures have not been effective.
Thus, while passing the new law, the Sindh Government must not forget the shortage of police officers, as well as the existing dysfunction in the law enforcement institution. Moreover, it is imperative that the law inculcating any new policing mechanism be specific about its selection of offenders and the scope to which the new measures are restricted. We do not want parole under surveillance being misused for political purposes.
