With recent high profile child abductions, parents are faced with the constant worry about child safety and many are thinking about tagging their children. So although companies offering to line blazers and jumpers with knife-resistant lining (as was the case earlier this year) might seem a little extreme, on one hand it is understandable.

But it seems the combination of innovation and safety precautions don’t stop there for schoolwear, as research carried out for Trutex earlier this year by Gusto Research showed. Its online research of parents and their children (aged between nine and 16) revealed that 44% of parents were concerned about the safety of their pre-teen children.

A further 59% said they would be interested in some form of tracking device being incorporated into school uniforms. Even school children showed a keen interest in having a tracking device incorporated into their school uniforms, with the idea appealing to 38% of nine to 12-year-olds. Many commented that they feel much safer when their parents know exactly where they are. Not surprisingly, children aged over 13 years were less keen on their parents knowing their exact whereabouts, arguing that it would be more suitable for younger children and that they did not want parents spying on them.

Commenting on the survey results, Clare Rix, Trutex 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.”

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