EASTBOURNE has become the first town in the UK where convicted shoplifters are being electronically tagged, as part of a ground-breaking pilot scheme to crack down on prolific offenders.
Sussex Police has secured the country’s first-ever Criminal Behaviour Orders (CBOs) requiring offenders convicted of shop theft to wear GPS tags, with the very first fitted to a shoplifter who targeted the Co-op store in Albert Parade, Eastbourne.
The order was granted at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on 19 September, banning the offender from entering the Eastbourne store and requiring them to wear the tag for 12 months.
The initiative, known as Operation STOP (Shop Theft Offender Pilot), is being trialled in East Sussex, led by Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne in partnership with Sussex Police, the courts, probation services and the Crown Prosecution Service.
A second tagged CBO was later issued to another repeat offender in Hastings, who will be required to wear a tag on release from prison.
Katy Bourne said: “I promised that we would take shop theft seriously in Sussex, so I am delighted that we are the first police area to use established tagging technology to address the most persistent offenders.
“As the national PCC lead for business and retail crime, I know the real impact it has on local businesses and communities. Deterrents need to be more effective and punishments must be meaningful. The tagging pilot is a proactive step forward in achieving this.”
Local business leaders in Eastbourne have welcomed the scheme, saying it could finally provide relief for retailers facing repeat thefts.
Adam Godden, Specialist Advisor for Business Crime at Lewes District and Eastbourne Borough Councils, said: “Local businesses are enthused to hear that this initiative is being trialled in Eastbourne.
“The fact that the first tag in the country has been fitted to an offender here shows that we have strong partnership working between the Business Crime Reduction Partnership (BCRP) and Sussex Police. We’re looking forward to seeing the impact on offenders’ behaviour and what relief this will give to businesses that have been relentlessly targeted.”
The scheme uses Buddi GPS ankle tags, which allow police to monitor offenders’ movements in real time. If a tagged individual enters an exclusion zone or tampers with the device, officers are immediately alerted.
While designed to deter repeat offending, the project is also being viewed as a rehabilitation tool, with those wearing tags offered tailored support such as addiction services, housing help and employment advice.
Over the past year, shoplifting in Sussex has risen year-by-year by 10%, with many offences going unsolved due to the difficulty in identifying suspects.
The pilot will be evaluated over the coming months to measure its impact on reoffending and the sense of safety among local traders.
