New Predator Spotting Laser Technology Developed in Cumbria Aims to Protect Women in Deserted Public Spaces

Cumbrian tech firm Createc develops laser tools to identify stalking and lurking patterns, aiming to improve safety for women in public spaces anonymously.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 9, 2026, 5:07 PM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from BBC

Technological Intervention for Public Safety Responsibility

A new application of laser technology is being pioneered in Cumbria to shift the burden of safety from potential victims to public authorities and property owners. Rosie Richardson, a product and strategy director at the tech firm Createc, is spearheading the development of a tool designed to identify predatory behaviors like loitering or following in transit hubs. The initiative stems from Richardson's personal commitment to systemic change, arguing that historical safety measures have unfairly placed the onus on women to protect themselves rather than demanding accountability from the environments they navigate.

Lidar Tracking and Behavioral Pattern Mapping

The system operates using sophisticated laser beams and mathematical algorithms to track individuals as anonymous dots on a digital map. Currently utilized for crowd management at major locations like London's King's Cross Station, the technology is being refined to recognize "abnormal" social scenarios, such as a person choosing to sit directly next to a lone commuter on an otherwise empty platform. By mapping these specific patterns, the tool acts as an early warning system that allows security teams to intervene or direct CCTV resources toward a situation before a physical escalation occurs.

Privacy Focused Monitoring Through Anonymization

One of the primary advantages of this laser-based approach is its inherent respect for public privacy compared to traditional constant video surveillance. Because the initial monitoring phase renders individuals as data points rather than identifiable images, the system avoids the ethical pitfalls of facial recognition and persistent observation. High-resolution cameras are only triggered or directed toward an area once the underlying "clever maths" flags a behavioral anomaly that matches known predator profiles. This two-tier approach seeks to balance the public's desire for privacy with the necessity of maintaining secure environments in low-light or deserted spaces.