Over half the orders were imposed for theft or burglary with two thirds of the youngsters facing tags of between two to three months. The curfew normally lasted 10 to 12 hours a day, almost always at night. The research found that very little information on the tagging reached school officials with schools sometimes only hearing of the tag after being contacted by the parent. Most curfewed children said it meant they spent more time at home watching TV or sleeping, and less time pursuing leisure activities. In some cases, parents found they had to give up their jobs to look after their curfewed child.
Ministers have yet to decide whether to extend the scheme by making tags a condition of bail.
The government hopes to go further on youth crime in the Queen's speech next month when they will propose fixed penalty fines for loutish antics, including drunkeness and anti-social behaviour.