§ 14. Mr. Adleyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress is being made in his examination of the problem of shoplifting from supermarkets.
§ Mr. CarlisleI am not in a position to add to what was said in reply to my hon. Friend's Question on 27th January.—[Vol. 829, c 1604-5.]
§ Mr. AdleyI am grateful to my hon. and learned Friend for that answer, but I hope that he will not mind my continuing to press the point. How soon does he expect his report to be ready. Is he aware that many hon. Members on both sides of the House are concerned about the increase in shoplifting due to the methods of trading of supermarkets and the many social problems resulting there from?
§ Mr. CarlisleI appreciate my hon. Friend's concern. I am afraid that I am not yet in a position to say when the working party will report. Of course, its report will be made to the Home Office Standing Committee on Crime Prevention.
§ Mr. Selwyn GummerWill my hon. and learned Friend remember that phrase in the Lord's Prayer,
And lead us not into temptation",when looking at the report? Does he accept that many companies in this respect deserve much of the shoplifting from which they suffer?
§ Mr. CarlisleI remember that sentence all the time.
§ Mr. James HamiltonWill the Minister assure us that when discussing this pernicious problem he will take into consideration the many innocent people who have been wrongly apprehended? Will he also consider that such people should have some means of obtaining restitution for being falsely accused of something which they have not done?
§ Mr. CarlisleProsecutions are not matters for my right hon. Friend; they are either for the police authority which brings the prosecution or, indeed, for the store which chooses to bring a private prosecution. There are great safeguards for the individual if he believes that he has been either falsely imprisoned or wrongly prosecuted as a result of proceedings which are brought.