'Big Brother' is coming to Northern Ireland with the imminent introduction of a system of electronic monitoring for criminals.

Tagging, as it is more commonly known, is set to play a significant role in improving the management and rehabilitation of offenders, according to the NIO's Criminal Justice Minister Paul Goggins.

He said today that, as part of the range of measures introduced through the 2008 Criminal Justice Order to improve public protection and modernise the criminal justice system, electronic monitoring will be available to the courts in Northern Ireland from the beginning of April.

Paul Goggins said: "The introduction of electronic monitoring in Northern Ireland is a new and additional way of managing offenders in the community.

"These new provisions being introduced from April will enable front line staff to enforce curfews through the use of electronic tags.

"They form part of the package of reforms passed by parliament last year to enhance public protection by creating a more robust sentencing regime," he said, noting that this is a significant step in the delivery of public protection.

"It will support the rehabilitation and resettlement of offenders and assist in the enforcement of bail curfews.

"It can help provide structure to the person's daily routine, allowing them to remain with their family and participate in work, training, education and other rehabilitative programmes."

He revealed that established company G4S (formerly Securicor) has been appointed to deliver electronic monitoring in Northern Ireland.

Field Monitoring Officers from the company - which is listed on the London Stock Exchange with a secondary listing in Copenhagen following the merger with Group 4 Falck in 2004 - will conduct installations and follow-up visits and violations will be recorded at G4S's Control Centre in Manchester.

The high-tech 'watcher' equipment is based on radio frequency technology.

The tag sends signals to the unit and if the subject is absent from their place of curfew during the curfew period, the unit detects a break in the signal and an alert is sent to the control centre.

An alert will also be sent if the tag or unit are broken or damaged; or if the unit is switched off or moved and the tag cannot be removed unless the strap is broken.

However, electronic monitoring is not satellite tracking. It simply determines if the subject is present at their place of curfew during their curfew period.

Once a violation is detected, the appropriate criminal justice organisation for follow up with appropriate enforcement action.

The PSNI will be responsible for enforcing any curfew violations when the subject is on bail.

The Probation Board (PBNI) or Youth Justice Agency (YJA) will take the lead for any offenders within their supervisory arrangements.

(BMcC/JM)