Britian could place electronic tags on fathers

Britain is considering putting electronic tags on fathers who refuse to pay child support.

The proposal is one of series of tough new penalties being considered as part of a shake-up of the troubled Child Support Agency, the London Independent reported.

Ministers will also order much greater use of existing but little-used powers such as confiscating driving licenses.

Tagging is seen as a more realistic option than prison, since parents could remain in work and keep up their maintenance payments, the newspaper said.

John Hutton, the secretary of state for work and pensions, told officials that harsh penalties are of little value if parents know they are unlikely to be used.

The agency has failed to collect an estimated $2.9 billion in unpaid maintenance and has a backlog of 350,000 cases. It has awarded compensation in 35,000 mishandled cases in the past four years, the newspaper reported.

(UPI)