Prisoners on probation could soon be electronically tagged to monitor their movements while outside prison walls.

The pilot project under considera-tion by Cabinet could also include persons on bail, Minister of National Security Dr. Peter Phillips told Correctional Service employees at their annual awards dinner at the Knutsford Court Hotel in New Kingston on Friday night.

Dr. Phillips said that the pilot could begin by year-end.

He said that the role of modern technology in crime-fighting had already proven its worth with the Jamaica Constabulary Force and the performance of their recently-acquired electronic fingerprinting system.

He said that the Government would continue to upgrade the prison service, including considering a proposal to establish a '21st Century Facility' to hold 2,000 prisoners.

However, referring to recent disturbances in East Kingston that have included the firebombing of eight homes and the detention of questioning of four People's National Party activists, he guarded against complacency, stressing that the fight against crime was far from over.