Croydon Council is preparing to pilot a lightweight GPS ankle tagging system for persistent shoplifters, according to Southlondonnews. The initiative aims to combat retail crime by monitoring and tracking prolific shoplifters, with the council planning to roll out the GPS tracking system later this year. Independent retailers and representatives from the Croydon Business Association have welcomed the trial, recognizing its potential to enhance security and reduce theft.
Selvaratnam, the Owner and Managing Director of Freshfields Market, emphasized the importance of the proposed scheme. "The GPS tracking system is a great idea," Selvaratnam said. "If they do, it's fine and they leave, and if not then it can be abuse, it can be aggression, it can be violence and it can be very disheartening to be on the back end of that." Selvaratnam highlighted the need for enforcement to make the GPS tracking effective, noting that geographic exclusion zones around high streets and town centre stores would be crucial for the system's success.
Under the proposed scheme, courts will issue legal orders forcing prolific thieves to wear electronic tags, allowing police to track their real-time movements and enforce geographic exclusion zones around high streets and town centre stores. This approach aims to protect local businesses from the financial and emotional strain caused by repeated theft.
Freshfields Market, owned and managed by Selvaratnam, has experienced the challenges of dealing with shoplifters firsthand. The market's owner expressed hope that the GPS tracking system will provide a solution to the ongoing issue of retail crime in Croydon.