DAVID PARKER IN THE UK
David Parker landed in jail thanks to problems with his G4S tags
Liverpool--Ann Marie Patchell told reporters that her son, 22-year-old David Parker, did everything he was supposed to – and ended up in jail anyway, thanks to problems with his G4S tags.
Parker was being electronically monitored by G4S after serving a six-month sentence for affray and dangerous driving. Parker says that on August 10 the tag fell off as he walked down the stairs at his home. He called G4S, and a new tag was fitted.
A month later, the second tag came off. When Parker reported the matter, he was told to report to the Meyerside police station. He was promptly thrown back in Walton jail. It emerged that a warrant had been issued for his arrest the first time the tag fell off, and so he was being returned to prison – 26 days added to his sentence for "time on the run."
G4S told reporters that when the first tag broke it informed the Home Office, which decided to issue the warrant. Local police, however, say that they never received the warrant.
"David's made mistakes, I'm not hiding the fact he's been in trouble. But he learned his lesson and was building a new life,” says Mrs. Patchell. “When he called me from prison he was absolutely devastated. He just feels disillusioned because there's been no chance to put forward his case. I'm worried this could undo all the work we've done to get him on the right track.”
This is not the only questionable case of a person in G4S' charge being sent to – or released from – a UK prison.
Read more >> Tagging in the UK
Have you or someone you know experienced G4S’ slipshod approach to criminal justice? Tell us your story.