Persistent shoplifters to be fitted with GPS tag

Police say the GPS tags will stop persistent shoplifters entering the areas where they regularly offend

Plans are being drawn up for "prolific" shoplifters in Sussex to be fitted with an electronic GPS tag.

Sussex Police and the county's police and crime commissioner Katy Bourne announced the plan in May and now say they have begun drawing up plans to implement it.

Ms Bourne said the tags mean persistent shoplifters would not be able to access the areas where they regularly commit crimes.

It has not yet been confirmed when the project will launch or how it will be paid for as it is still in the research phase, according to the commissioner's office.

Ms Bourne said she hopes to see the tags rolled out across the country if they are successful in Sussex.

"Shoplifting not only destroys livelihoods for our independent retailers but it also erodes the culture of our high streets by making residents feel unsafe when they visit," she said.

The commissioner's office said she had long been calling for tags to be implemented by this and previous governments, but became "impatient" so decided to do it herself in Sussex.

However, a spokesperson for Ms Bourne was unable to confirm how the tags would be issued, what the threshold was for a shoplifter to be deemed "prolific", how much the scheme would cost, where the money would come from or when she expected it to begin.

The spokesperson said research into most of these points is underway.

Leading the project for Sussex Police is Det Insp Martin Harmer, who said: "My previous roles in safeguarding and intervention projects have shown me the positive impact that targeted support can have in reducing offending and encouraging engagement.

"The addition of GPS tagging will further strengthen the incentives for people to stop offending and provide additional methods to enforce compliance."