Sussex has launched a pioneering initiative to tackle repeat shoplifting by introducing GPS tagging for prolific offenders, marking the first time in the UK that convicted shoplifters have been ordered by courts to wear electronic monitoring devices. The pilot, known as Operation STOP (Shop Theft Offender Pilot), aims to curb retail crime while supporting offenders to break the cycle of reoffending.
The first court orders under the scheme were issued by Brighton Magistrates’ Court on 19 September 2025, when a convicted shoplifter was made subject to a Criminal Behaviour Order requiring them to wear a GPS ankle tag for 12 months, with an exclusion zone around the Co-op in Albert Parade, Eastbourne. A second order followed on 1 October 2025, imposing a similar 12-month tagging requirement on another offender, banning them from entering the Co-op in Parkstone Parade, Hastings. These landmark orders signal a major shift in how repeat shoplifters are monitored, combining deterrence with rehabilitation.
Sussex Police and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) have introduced the pilot in response to a 10 per cent rise in shoplifting across the county over the past year. Many incidents go unsolved because no suspect is identified, but where offenders are caught, reoffending rates remain high. The new approach seeks to address that by introducing continuous location monitoring through discreet Buddi GPS ankle tags already used in other criminal justice contexts, such as stalking prevention and safeguarding.
The tags allow real-time monitoring of offenders’ movements, alerting authorities to any breaches of exclusion zones or tampering. Courts can tailor orders to specific risk factors and locations, while police are able to intervene quickly if an offender enters restricted areas. Beyond enforcement, the project also connects participants with rehabilitation services, including help for substance misuse, housing and employment support—recognising that many persistent shoplifters offend due to addiction, poverty or instability rather than deliberate targeting of stores.
Operation STOP is a collaborative effort led by Sussex PCC Katy Bourne, working with Sussex Police, the Crown Prosecution Service, His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service, and probation teams. A designated police officer in East Sussex coordinates the process between these agencies to ensure each case is properly managed. While most tagging orders will run for 12 months, courts have the power to extend them in particularly serious or repeat cases.
Local business groups, including the Eastbourne and Lewes Business Crime Reduction Partnership, have welcomed the pilot, saying it offers a much-needed tool to protect shops and staff from persistent offenders. Probation officers have also backed the move, viewing it as a balance between accountability and rehabilitation. The combination of surveillance and support, they argue, gives offenders a stronger incentive to change while keeping communities safer.
The success of the scheme will be measured over time through reductions in reoffending, feedback from retailers and participants, and analysis of local crime data. If successful, Operation STOP could become a model for other forces across the country, showing that technology and community support can work hand in hand to reduce low-level but damaging crimes such as shoplifting.
Despite the optimism, there are challenges ahead. Privacy concerns must be addressed through clear safeguards on how location data is stored and accessed. The pilot will also require sustained funding to manage tagging equipment, monitoring, and associated support programmes. Critics warn that tagging alone may not change behaviour unless paired with real opportunities for rehabilitation and social reintegration.
Nonetheless, Sussex’s new GPS tagging pilot marks a bold and potentially transformative step in tackling repeat retail crime. By blending enforcement with compassion, it aims not only to protect businesses and communities but also to give offenders a genuine chance to break free from a cycle of offending that benefits no one..
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