The legislation underpinning the new tags came into force across England and Wales in May, having been piloted in London, Humberside, Lincolnshire and North Yorkshire.

The ankle tags sample the wearer’s sweat every 30 minutes to determine whether alcohol has been consumed in breach of an alcohol abstinence order.

If the tags – which can be imposed for up to 120 days – detect that alcohol has been consumed, the offender can be returned to court for further sanctions, including a fine, an extension of the order, or imprisonment.

Kit Malthouse, UK government minister for crime and policing, said: “All too often we see the devastating effects of alcohol-fuelled behaviour, reckless crimes and casual violence which blight our neighbourhoods and the lives of too many victims.

“This proven new tool can break the self-destructive cycle that offenders end up in, helping them sober up if they choose to and the courts to punish those who don’t.

“The scheme follows two successful pilots in London and across Humberside, Lincolnshire and North Yorkshire which showed that offenders were alcohol-free on over 97 per cent of the days monitored. Wearers also reported a positive impact on their lives, wellbeing and behaviour.”

He added: “At present, abstinence orders can last for four months but we are looking at whether they should be able to last longer as part of our sentencing reforms.”