As previously reported, Sussex Police’s plans to tag prolific shoplifters was announced this month.
Now, the force - under the Operation STOP pilot – has revealed details of fitting its first two offenders with Buddi tags - discreet GPS ankle devices - as part of a CBO with agreement from probation services.
The tags allow police to monitor offenders’ movements, helping deter further offences and enabling swift action if breaches or tampering occur.
Following an appearance at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on 19 September, Victoria Hale, 50, of Command Road in Eastbourne, became the first person to be fitted with a Buddi tag after being given a two-year CBO after guilty pleas to 12 shoplifting charges.
The tag excludes Hale from a 30m area around the Co-Op in Albert Road, Eastbourne, for 12 months.
Meanwhile, following an entirely separate investigation, Barry Farthing, 41, was jailed for eight months and given a CBO including a location monitoring tag following a six-week shoplifting spree earlier this year where he repeatedly targeted stores in East Sussex, often stealing items on consecutive days.
Officers had already been investigating Farthing for 76 previous shoplifting related charges committed between January and March of this year. He was arrested, charged with 46 counts of theft from a shop and remanded into custody.
The offender was jailed for eight months and given a CBO which outlines that upon release, he has been ordered to wear a location monitoring tag for 12 months.
Farthing has also been banned from entering a 40-metre radius of the Co-Op in Parkstone Parade, Hastings, and from entering any Co-Op or Tesco store in East Sussex during the same period.
Chief Superintendent Katy Woolford said: “Shoplifting has an enormous impact on businesses and the wider community. We’ll use all of the tools at our disposal to support businesses and ensure that prolific offenders are brought to justice.
“In Sussex, we’re leading the way with this innovative scheme to tackle repeat offenders, and we’ll continue to work closely with our partners to protect our business community.”
Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Katy Bourne said: “I’m delighted to see our Sussex pilot project already delivering real results – successful court outcomes that actively tackle repeat shop theft and help to protect local businesses.”
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