§ 2. Mr. Adleyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of pleas of not guilty on shoplifting charges resulted in acquittals; and what was the average percentage of pleas of not guilty resulting in acquittals for other offences against property with out violence, for the last three years for which figures are available.
§ Mr. CarlisleOf all persons who pleaded not guilty in 1971 to shoplifting charges in all courts in England and Wales, 37.3 per cent. were acquitted or had the charges withdrawn or dismissed. Not all the other information sought is available; but I shall write to my hon. Friend with whatever information I canobtain.
§ Mr. AdleyI am grateful for that answer, but does it not indicate that the shortage of statistical knowledge about the problem is one of the main causes of concern to magistrates, lawyers, the police and the medical profession? Will my hon. and learned Friend seriously consider the need to review the criteria by which statistics are compiled by the Home Office and see whether it is time to produce separate statistics for supermarket shoplifting?
§ Mr. CarlisleI have been able to give my hon. Friend an answer about shoplifting and the percentage acquitted. We do not keep statistics at the moment in that way with regard to all offences but I shall try to find out what further information I can from the research department.