First London borough to use 'Telstar' for offenders

Hounslow is to be the first London borough to trial a new state of the art tagging system to keep track of offenders under the operational name - Operation Telstar. 

The new GPS tagging of offenders is a project supported by the London Borough of Hounslow, Metropolitan Police Service (Hounslow Division) and Hounslow district of the National Probation Service all working together to protect the community.  The tracking technology is being provided by ‘Buddi Limited’.  

GPS tracking tags provide constant surveillance of offenders and can track an offender’s precise location every minute of the day and night. Further benefits from pilot projects include greater control of offenders through use of exclusion zones and curfews, greater intelligence with information about activities and the whereabouts of offenders, as well as improved rehabilitation of offenders.  

Detective Chief Inspector Sarah Pearce said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to make use of the latest technology to support the rehabilitation of offenders. This is part of our wider strategy to reduce re-offending, making Hounslow a safer place to live work and visit. ”

Councillor Ed Mayne , cabinet member for community safety and regulatory services, said: “If this system helps rehabilitate offenders and leads to less crime, then that benefits society as a whole.” 

GPS technology is very accurate and would identify immediately if the offender has been involved in a crime.  It has proved successful in other countries and is widely used in the US. Bedfordshire ran a successful trial, where GPS tracking tags of offenders connected with 459 crimes before they were tagged were linked to just three offences after being fitted with a GPS device.  

November 22, 2013