Submitting... The intention is the tags will also act as a deterrent, protecting the public from further burglaries and forcing career criminals to choose a more honest way of making a living. It is hoped the scheme will reduce the estimated £4.8 billion burden such crimes place on the taxpayer every year. Under new rules, the criminals that have served a prison sentence of a year or more will be automatically fitted with a tag on release, allowing their whereabouts to be monitored by GPS satellites 24 hours a day for up to 12 months. The scheme will initially launch in six police force areas, including Humberside, Avon and Somerset, Cheshire, Gloucestershire, Gwent, and West Midlands on 12 April and it is estimated 250 offenders will be tagged in the first six months. It will then be extended to a further 13 areas in September.