This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/may/01/police-defend-gps-locator-dementia

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Police defend plan to use GPS locators to find missing people with dementia Police defend use of GPS locators to find dementia patients who wander off
(about 2 hours later)
Police have defended their decision to buy GPS locating devices to trace people with dementia patients amid calls from for their withdrawal. Police have defended a "barbaric" decision to buy GPS locating devices to trace people with dementia who disappear.
Sussex police have bought six battery-powered locators as part of a attempt to save money and time spent on searching for missing dementia patients. Sussex police have bought six battery-powered locators as part of a attempt to save money and time spent on searching for dementia patients.
The National Pensioners Convention (NPC) described the introduction of the devices as "barbaric" and suggested sufferers could be stigmatised and made to feel like criminals. The National Pensioners Convention described the introduction of the devices as "barbaric" and suggested people could be stigmatised and made to feel like criminals.
But Sergeant Suzie Mitchell said: "The scheme is only costing Sussex police a few hundred pounds but, comparing this to police time, resources, potential risk to the missing person, let alone the anxiety and worry for their family, it is, in my opinion, a few hundred pounds well spent."But Sergeant Suzie Mitchell said: "The scheme is only costing Sussex police a few hundred pounds but, comparing this to police time, resources, potential risk to the missing person, let alone the anxiety and worry for their family, it is, in my opinion, a few hundred pounds well spent."
The Mindme GPS device is monitored by Chichester Careline, run by Chichester district council, and supports vulnerable people 24 hours a day. The Mindme GPS device is monitored by Chichester Careline, run by Chichester district council, and supports vulnerable people 24 hours a day. It can be attached to house keys or kept round a person's neck and enables those who become lost or disorientated to be found by their families through a website or the careline.
It can be attached to house keys or kept round a person's neck and enables people who become lost or disorientated to be located by their family through a website or the careline. As long as wearers have a mobile signal, they can be located anywhere in the world, officials said. Information on their whereabouts is given only to the carer or family after security checks.
As long as the wearer has a mobile signal, they can be located anywhere in the world, officials said. Information on their whereabouts is given only to the carer or family after passing security checks. The device is seen as a way of helping police who say they are regularly called out to help find people with dementia .
The device is seen as a way of helping police who say they are regularly called out to help find people with dementia who are missing . But Dot Gibson, the pensioners convention general secretary, said: "I think they should withdraw it straight away. Trying to equate somebody who has committed a criminal act with somebody who is suffering dementia is completely wrong. I doubt whether anyone in the cabinet would want their parents dealt with in this way if they were suffering from dementia."
But Dot Gibson, NPC general secretary, said: "I think they [the devices] should withdraw it straight away. Trying to equate somebody who has committed a criminal act with somebody who is suffering dementia is completely wrong. Gibson accused the authorities of "trying to get care on the cheap", adding: "It looks at the problem in the wrong way. If you've got people in the community who are so bad that they are wandering off at night and are not safe, they should be properly cared for; they shouldn't be tagged.
"I doubt whether anyone in the cabinet would want their parents dealt with in this way if they were suffering from dementia."
Gibson accused the authorities of "trying to get care on the cheap", adding: "It looks at the problem in the wrong way. If you've got people in the community who are so bad that they are wandering off at night and are not safe, they should be properly cared for, they shouldn't be tagged.
"It's a crude form of monitoring when the issue needs a much more detailed response than this. This is a back-of-an-envelope response.""It's a crude form of monitoring when the issue needs a much more detailed response than this. This is a back-of-an-envelope response."
There are believed to be more than 800,000 people with dementia in the UK. A number of local authorities are already using similar devices to track those with the condition, but this is believed to be the first time a police force has taken on such a scheme. There are believed to be more than 800,000 people with dementia in the UK. A number of local authorities are already using similar devices, but this is believed to be the first time a police force has taken on such a scheme.
The devices cost £27.50 a month, which includes Chichester Careline monitoring it round the clock, every day.The devices cost £27.50 a month, which includes Chichester Careline monitoring it round the clock, every day.
Eileen Lintill at Chichester district Council said: "Hundreds of thousands of people across the country have dementia. This solution gives both those with dementia and their families the confidence and reassurance they need. Eileen Lintill of Chichester district council said: "Hundreds of thousands of people across the country have dementia. This solution gives both those with dementia and their families the confidence and reassurance they need.
"The latest model also allows customers to speak to us directly by pressing a button. This can be used by anyone who wants to maintain their independence, but have the reassurance that someone is always around to help them.""The latest model also allows customers to speak to us directly by pressing a button. This can be used by anyone who wants to maintain their independence, but have the reassurance that someone is always around to help them."