A pilot scheme allowing the electronic monitoring of offenders on bail should be underway within a month, Attorney General Michael Scott has announced.The scheme will see around 20 to 25 “medium to low risk” criminals fitted with ankle tags, allowing the authorities to monitor their movements using Internet, cellular and GPS technology. An alert will be sent out if the person goes anywhere they are not supposed to be.The technology allows for “inclusion zones,” for places the person is allowed to be, such as their home. It can also include “exclusion zones,” such as the home of the crime victim, the airport, and known drug dealing areas.Announcing the scheme yesterday, Mr Scott said: “Monitoring will not be relied upon to prevent persons from committing offences. It will be a tool to allow for swift, targeted responses to breach of electronic monitoring bail conditions. The further intent is to increase monitoring and controls for this offender population, monitoring his or her location and by extension their activities, thus enhancing the protection and safety of our community.”The Bermuda Security Group [BSG] is partnering with Government for the one-year pilot project. The electronic tags will be used on people bailed by the police and also bailed by the courts. According to the Minister, they have proved to be efficient in other countries at preventing antisocial behaviour and ensuring offenders attend meetings.“It should be understood that the primary consideration whenever a person is released on bail is for public safety. This will not change. It offers the opportunity to enhance that objective. Furthermore, it will also provide the opportunity for those in violation of the law to be reintegrated back into our society,” he said.“By providing the authorities with the capability to keep an eye on their movements at all times, we now have a means to know they are where they are supposed to be, and they have the opportunity to prove themselves worthy of being trusted to live crime-free lives.”The Minister said participants in the pilot programme must volunteer to wear a tag. Any time they enter a no-go zone, an alert will be sent to BSG.Wayne Edwards, chief operating officer at the security company said: “The programme is a well-tested and cost-saving alternative to incarceration.”This is the first time electronic tagging has been used in Bermuda, although it has been used for more than 25 years in other countries. According to Mr Scott, Government started exploring the idea more than ten years ago. When mock trials were done eight years ago, the cost worked out to be approximately $3 per day, per offender.The Minister said he is considering making the tagged person pay part of the cost.Mr Scott was unable to specify the price of the contract, which was signed with BSG earlier this month, when asked at yesterday’s press conference.Bermuda Democratic Alliance MP Mark Pettingill raised concerns in the House of Assembly last December over the proposed pilot scheme. He said it was long overdue, and also claimed that another company demonstrated the product for free but Government did not get back in touch with them.“This makes me really concerned about the tendering process,” he said at the time.Asked if the tendering process was full and fair yesterday, Mr Scott replied: “Yes, the tendering process was carried out in a transparent way and the contracted party qualified.”