Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Shoplifting: Prosecutions

Thursday 12 September 2024 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Steve Darling asked about steps to increase prosecution rates for shoplifting.
  • The response highlighted a safer streets mission to combat shoplifting.
  • The government aims to introduce a new offence to protect retail workers from assault.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Steve Darling Lib Dem Torbay
Crime & Law Enforcement
Context

The British Retail Consortium identified a £1.7 billion cost to traders from shoplifting offences, impacting the viability of high street trading in Torbay.

Question

What steps are being taken to help increase prosecution rates for shoplifting?

Answer from Sarah Sackman

Our safer streets mission aims to end the epidemic of shoplifting on high streets. Between 2018 and 2023, the charge rate for shoplifting offences decreased significantly under the previous government, with 10,000 fewer charges per year. The current government believes that criminal gangs have been emboldened by poor enforcement and immunity for low-level shoplifting. We are introducing a new offence of assaulting retail workers to protect store staff.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific measures to increase prosecution rates were not provided, only a general commitment to action against shoplifting.

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Q2 Steve Darling Lib Dem Torbay
Crime & Law Enforcement Justice & Courts
Context

The British Retail Consortium identified a £1.7 billion cost to traders from the offence, affecting high street viability in Torbay.

Question

I congratulate the Solicitor General on their appointment. How will the Solicitor General ensure that we expedite shoplifting prosecutions?

Answer from Sarah Sackman

The police are working closely with CPS colleagues to prosecute shoplifting, but we know there is more to do. Among additional measures, the Government will introduce a new offence of assaulting retail workers in order to protect store staff. There are other things that we can do, but this is a start.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific timeline and concrete actions for expediting shoplifting prosecutions were not provided.

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