Croydon Council to pilot GPS tags for repeat shoplifters

Croydon Council is preparing to trial GPS ankle tags for persistent shoplifters, a measure that could ban offenders from the town centre under legal orders. The scheme, still awaiting funding, would allow police to monitor movements and issue alerts if tagged individuals enter restricted zones.

The proposal follows 4,796 reported shop thefts in Croydon town centre over the past 12 months. While this marks a 4.9% decrease from the previous year, retailers say enforcement remains inconsistent, with many incidents going unreported due to a lack of confidence in the system.

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Retailers demand stronger action

Benedict Selvaratnam, managing director of Freshfields Market on Church Street, said shoplifters exploit gaps in enforcement and the borough’s transport links. His staff have faced violence, including an incident where thieves threw bottles after being confronted over stolen wine.

We ban shoplifters and say they are not welcome here, but they still keep coming back. By the time the police come they are long gone.

Benedict Selvaratnam, managing director of Freshfields Market

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Selvaratnam, who also represents the Croydon Business Association, said the issue dominates discussions among the group’s 450 members. He described the current system as ineffective, with retailers often reluctant to intervene due to the risk of aggression from offenders.

How the pilot would work

The council is in talks with the Metropolitan Police and technology provider BUDDI to design the scheme. If approved, offenders could be required to wear GPS tags under court orders, with alerts sent to police if they breach exclusion zones. Similar pilots in East Sussex have shown success in reducing repeat offences.

Funding remains a hurdle, with no confirmed start date. The council has already taken steps to address antisocial behaviour, including securing a borough-wide ban against David Tench, a persistent offender in West Croydon. Additional Parkguard Patrol officers have also been deployed in high-crime areas this summer.

Council commits to zero-tolerance approach

Mayor Jason Perry said shoplifting threatens livelihoods and increases costs for customers. He pledged to use every legal tool to protect businesses, framing the GPS pilot as part of a broader zero-tolerance strategy.

Zero-tolerance means backing our businesses and using every legal tool available to protect them. GPS tagging could help us monitor persistent shoplifting offenders and prevent the same people returning time and again to cause more harm.

Jason Perry, Mayor of Croydon

The council’s Town Centre Taskforce is also working with partners to tackle antisocial behaviour and environmental crime. Perry said the authority would continue collaborating with police and retailers to refine the pilot and improve safety in the borough.