A LEADING campaigner for Hampshire's elderly has backed the idea of electronically tagging some pensioners.

But Age Concern Hampshire director Chris Perry said he would only support any proposals if it was to help dementia suffers.

His comments came after government minister Malcolm Wickes put forward the suggestion of using satellite navigation systems to keep tabs on elderly people.

But Mr Perry said if the science minister was referring to elderly people with dementia who could be tracked using the latest technology, he could easily see why.

He said: "For people who are prone to wandering off, tracking them through satellite navigation equipment could be very beneficial for them but the suggestion that all older people in general should be tagged is a tremendous infringement of human rights.

"I would be horrified if that is what Mr Wicks is suggesting but I can see why he thinks it could help those with dementia or alzheimers."

Mr Wicks says the sat-nav tagging system would give sufferers, who often experience memory loss, "freedom to roam around their communities."