Over 200 stalking offenders in London will be fitted with GPS tags upon release from prison as part of a new pilot program aimed at reducing re-offending. The scheme, initiated by Mayor Sadiq Khan, will run until March 2026 and targets individuals convicted of stalking, including those who have served custodial and community sentences.

Developed in consultation with victims’ and survivor groups, the pilot aims to enhance victim safety and prevent re-offending by using GPS tracking to monitor offenders’ movements. The £5.7 million initiative, in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice, will track stalking offenders under strict conditions and enable swift detection of any license violations.

Mayor Khan emphasized that stalking, a crime often affecting young women, has severe long-term impacts. He stressed that the scheme, already successful in reducing re-offending in other cases, will help safeguard victims and hold offenders accountable.

Claire Waxman, London’s independent victims’ commissioner, welcomed the program, noting that it would provide an additional layer of protection for stalking victims. The pilot was announced during the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, which runs from November 25 to December 10.

James Timpson, Minister for Prisons, Probation, and Reducing Reoffending, also backed the initiative, stating that GPS tagging will help prevent stalking re-offenses and enhance public safety. The scheme builds on previous successful programs for tracking offenders of domestic abuse and knife crimes.