Persistent shoplifters could be electronically tagged and excluded from Croydon town centre under tough new proposals being explored by Croydon Council. Executive Mayor Jason Perry has made community safety a priority for his new term and is examining how GPS ankle tags could be used to tackle prolific offenders who repeatedly target local shops.

The proposed pilot forms part of the Mayor’s zero-tolerance approach to crime and antisocial behaviour. Repeat offenders would have to wear ankle tags and could potentially be excluded from certain areas, such as in the town centre. The technology would deter repeat offending.

Croydon has met with Sussex Police, in East Sussex, which was the first area in the UK to successfully pilot the technology in this way and would like to see it rolled out further. The Council is also in dialogue with the police and technology providers. The funding and the enforcement of the technology is still being explored as part of the research.

Like many London boroughs, businesses in Croydon town centre fall victim to repeat offenders. There were 4,796 reported shop thefts in the town centre over the last 12 months and 5,043 the year before. This equates to a 4.9% reduction – but there is more work to be done to reduce the financial impact on local businesses.

Benedict Selvaratnam, managing director of Freshfields Market in Croydon and co-founder of Croydon Business Association, said: “Shoplifting has a significant impact on businesses, particularly retailers. It is not simply the financial value of the goods being stolen. There is also the cost of additional security, and the pressure it puts on staff, and morale. Persistent offenders make staff feel unsafe at work, and many businesses feel frustrated when the same individuals return repeatedly.

“I would support tougher and more effective action against persistent offenders, including the appropriate use of GPS tagging. Where individuals repeatedly target shops and businesses, there needs to be a meaningful deterrent and a way of preventing that cycle from simply continuing.

“From my experience both as a retailer and through the Croydon Business Association, businesses want to see a system where persistent shoplifting has real consequences, while of course ensuring measures are proportionate and properly managed.”

The Council is working closely with the police and other partners on a number of projects to tackle antisocial behaviour and environmental crime in the town centre. This includes the Town Centre Taskforce, a partnership between the Council, businesses, police, youth services, community and voluntary organisations, health teams, and homelessness support services.

The Council was able to secure a borough-wide ban against a man after his ongoing antisocial behaviour caused misery for local businesses and residents, particularly in the West Croydon area. The injunction bans David Tench from entering any part of Croydon and the police have the power to arrest him without a warrant, if he breaches the order.

The partnership has also introduced Parkguard Patrol officers in antisocial behaviour hotspots across the borough this summer – accredited community safety officers who work alongside the Council and Police to keep residents and businesses safe.

“Shoplifting is not a victimless crime. It threatens people’s livelihoods, drives up prices for honest customers and leaves shopworkers facing intimidation and abuse simply for doing their jobs.

“Our businesses have had enough of prolific offenders repeatedly targeting their shops, and so have I. My message is clear – that if you come to Croydon to steal, you should expect consequences.

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

“We have already secured a borough-wide ban against one persistent antisocial behaviour offender and put additional accredited officers on our streets. Now we want to go further.

“I am determined that Croydon will lead the way in taking tough, practical action against shoplifting. We will continue working with the police, businesses and technology providers to develop this pilot and make Croydon a safer place in which to work, shop and live.”

Jason Perry, Executive Mayor of Croydon