Defendants able to be monitored at home

Auckland and Northland defendants awaiting trial can now be bailed to be monitored electronically at home.

Police prosecution service national manager Superintendent Graham Thomas said courts were yesterday given the option to consider electronic monitoring as a bail condition.

Defendants would wear an electronic bracelet. If they left the house for an unapproved reason, an alarm would activate and police would be dispatched.

The initiative would be introduced through the rest of the North Island on November 6 and the South Island on November 27.