Micro-Chipped School uniforms to be tracked by satellite
Pastor Dale Morgan
Micro-Chipped School uniforms to be tracked by satellite*
By Graeme Paton
Last Updated: 3:58am BST 21/08/2007
School uniforms could be fitted with satellite technology to allay
parents' fears over child abduction.
Trutex, a specialist supplier, is considering putting GPS tracking
devices in new clothes amid increasing concerns over safety.
The company surveyed 800 parents and found that more than two in five
feared their young children were at risk of being snatched.
In addition, 59 per cent said they would be "interested" in some form of
tracking device being added to school uniforms.
The findings follow public alarm over the apparent abduction of
Madeleine McCann.
The company, which supplies some 500 shops throughout the UK, said last
night that it had not assessed the cost of such a move.
But Clare Rix, marketing director, said: "As a direct result of the
survey, we are now seriously considering incorporating a device into
future ranges.
"As well as being a safety net for parents, there could be real benefits
for schools who could keep a closer track on the whereabouts of their
pupils, potentially reducing truancy levels."
However, children rejected the idea of any tracking technology.
The firm interviewed 450 children aged nine to 16 and found that just a
third of those under 12 were keen on the move.
It was even more unpopular among older schoolchildren.