Croydon shops could gain a new defence against repeat theft

By the AtheneNet News Desk

Croydon town centre recorded 4,796 reported shop thefts over the latest 12-month period—an average of about 13 reports a day. Although that was 247 fewer than the 5,043 reports in the preceding year, Croydon Council says persistent offending remains a serious burden for retailers and their staff.

Executive Mayor Jason Perry is now exploring a pilot under which prolific shoplifters could be required to wear GPS ankle tags and kept out of designated areas. The proposal could give authorities a way to monitor exclusion zones, but it has not yet been confirmed, funded or approved for operation.

Reported theft fell 4.9%, but shops still face repeated losses

The council calculates that reported shop theft in the town centre declined by 4.9% between the two 12-month periods. That comparison indicates fewer reports, but it does not establish why the number changed or show how many incidents involved repeat offenders.

For businesses, the effects extend beyond the value of stolen goods. Benedict Selvaratnam, managing director of Freshfields Market and co-founder of the Croydon Business Association, said retailers also carry higher security costs while staff face pressure, declining morale and concerns about offenders returning.

Selvaratnam supports tougher action, including the appropriate use of GPS tagging, provided any measures are proportionate and properly managed. His comments identify the proposal’s intended beneficiaries: shopworkers, independent retailers, larger businesses and customers affected by the wider cost of theft.

GPS tags could support exclusion zones in Croydon

Under the model being examined, repeat offenders would wear GPS ankle tags. The location data could potentially be used to determine whether a tagged person entered an area from which they had been excluded, such as Croydon town centre.

The stated aim is to deter further offending and prevent the same individuals from repeatedly targeting local shops. The council has spoken to Sussex Police in East Sussex, described in the source announcement as the first UK area to pilot the technology in this way, and is also holding discussions with police and technology providers.

Those discussions do not mean tagging has begun in Croydon. The available information does not identify who would qualify as a prolific offender, who would impose a tag or exclusion zone, how long restrictions would last, or which locations would be covered.

Funding and enforcement remain unresolved

The central distinction is between the mayor’s policy ambition and an operational scheme. Croydon Council says both funding and enforcement arrangements are still being researched. It has not disclosed a budget, launch date, approval timetable or number of people who might be tagged.

Until those points are settled, offenders cannot be assumed to face GPS monitoring under this proposal. Any workable pilot would need a defined route for imposing restrictions, responsibility for monitoring compliance and a response when an exclusion zone is breached. The council’s announcement says these matters are under exploration but provides no final framework.

Existing patrols and court action form the current response

The GPS proposal sits alongside measures already operating through Croydon’s Town Centre Taskforce. That partnership brings together the council, businesses, police, youth services, community and voluntary groups, health teams and homelessness support services.

Parkguard Patrol officers have also been deployed in antisocial-behaviour hotspots across the borough. These accredited community safety officers work with the council and police to support residents and businesses.

Separately, the council secured a borough-wide injunction against David Tench following persistent antisocial behaviour that affected businesses and residents, particularly around West Croydon. The order bars him from entering Croydon and allows police to arrest him without a warrant if he breaches it. That injunction demonstrates an existing exclusion measure, but it is separate from the proposed GPS-tagging pilot.

The next milestone is a workable pilot plan

Jason Perry said shoplifting threatens livelihoods, raises costs and exposes shopworkers to intimidation and abuse. He argues that GPS tagging could help enforce exclusion zones and stop persistent offenders returning.

The next confirmed step is continued work between Croydon Council, police, businesses and technology providers. Before the proposal changes enforcement in the town centre, the council still needs to establish how it would be funded, authorised, administered and enforced.

Source: Croydon Council