TRACKING technology is being explored as a potential option to help in efforts to respond to missing children and vulnerable adults at the beach.

Exact details on how the use of devices, similar to those used for runners in marathons, would work have not been detailed but the suggestion from a member of the seafront team is on the table.

A recent council report on the seafront response this year provided the first mention of the idea.

Councillors raised the subject at last month’s BCP Council corporate and community overview and scrutiny committee asking for clarity on the suggestion.

The report, which was compiled by multiple managers, heads of department and directors, listed it under a development plan which will be looked into over the winter.

Under the heading of missing children, the report said: “Investigate the potential for the implementation of a kid zone wristband which includes a tracking chip, where an individual code for the wristband is provided to its user (parents/carers etc).

"This technology is currently utilised in marathons and trilithon races to keep track of participants. Potentially, this could be manufactured at minimal cost, promoted, and sold for resort profit.

“If successful, the application of such wristbands could be explored as a method of safeguarding high-risk vulnerable individuals in wider settings.”

When approached for comment about using tracking technology by the Daily Echo, the council referenced the existing LV= KidZone.

Over the summer, seafront staff run the beach safety scheme, sponsored by LV=, which issues thousands of wristbands to help to prevent and reunite lost children and vulnerable adults.

This year during the peak tourist season the seafront ranger and Kidzone teams worked together to locate and reunite 349 missing people with their guardians.

A BCP Council spokesperson said: “It allows parents, guardians or carers to write their mobile number inside and attach to their child or vulnerable adult’s wrist for the day and gives that extra peace of mind while families and visitors enjoy their day out.

“A member of our seafront team came up with a creative suggestion of wristband tracker technology, similar to technology that is used regularly in wristbands at events such as marathons, which accurately log runner times.

“There are no immediate plans for changes until we are able to look into it further."