Five criminals serving community-based sentences or on electronic monitoring are on the run after cutting off their ankle bracelets.
The Department of Corrections made the admission on TV3's Story last night.
The revelations come after officials copped criticism over their response to child sex offender Daniel Livingstone cutting his anklet off and going on the run for more than 30 hours in Wellington earlier this month.
Corrections assistant northern commissioner Alastair Riach told TV3 about 1600 people were being monitored electronically and alarms would be raised straight away if the bracelets were cut.
There were five people on the run after cutting off their bracelets although Mr Riach couldn't confirm their identities.
