More than 1,000 violent crimes have been committed by offenders released from jail early on an electronic tag, it was revealed yesterday.
There have been four manslaughters, one murder, 56 woundings and more than 700 assaults since "Home Detention Curfew" came into force in 1999.
There were also 100 cases of possessing an offensive weapon, one incident of causing death by reckless driving, 100 of obstructing a police officer and 16 other violent attacks.
A report from the Commons' all-party Public Accounts Committee (PAC) disclosed the figures as it examined the success of the G overnment's tagging programme.
It warned that there was "insufficient evidence" that tagging helped to reduce reoffending or rehabilitate criminals.
PAC chairman Edward Leigh said: "Releasing selected offenders early from prison on condition that they are subject to an electronically monitored curfew at home is a cost-effective alternative to custody.
"But only if there is minimal risk to the public.
"In fact, the prison governors who take the final decision to release offenders on curfew are not told if their assessments turned out to be sound."
