HC Deb 08 November 1973 vol 863 cc1152-3
7. Mr Greville Janner

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of women who pleaded not guilty to shoplifting charges before juries during the latest 12-month period for which records are available was acquitted.

Mr. Carlisle

The latest year for which information is readily available is 1971. In that year, 62 per cent. of female defendants who pleaded not guilty at assizes and quarter sessions in England and Wales to a charge of shoplifting were acquitted.

Mr. Janner

Is not that a very remarkable and sad figure, which shows that far too many people are wrongfully charged with shoplifting? What do the Government propose to do to prevent as far as possible the wrongful prosecution of the innocent?

Mr. Carlisle

With respect, it does not appear to be a remarkable figure. The hon. and learned Gentleman asked me the proportion of those who elect to go for trial and who plead not guilty. A fact that he should equally bear in mind is that, of the 47,589 people proceeded against for shoplifting in 1971, 44,251 were found guilty. That is a fairer figure to take than merely the proportion of the much smaller number who go for trial, and I have no reason to think that there is a greater risk of innocent people being charged in these circumstances than in any other circumstances.

Mr. Fowler

In the Home Office working party on shoplifting, the report of which has just been published, why was no original research commissioned into shoplifters themselves? Is there not a danger of shoplifting being categorised as accidental or done under stress, when the evidence that is available suggests that the great majority of it is deliberate dishonesty?

Mr. Carlisle

The reason why the working party did not look into that was that the working party was set up by the Home Office Standing Advisory Committee on Crime Prevention and it was dealing with ways of recommending to retailers more effective means of security against shoplifting. I take this opportunity of confirming what my hon. Friend says, namely, that we should all remember that shoplifting is a form of dishonesty just as much as any other form of theft.

Mr. Arthur Davidson

Would the figures that the Minister has given have been included in the figures and statistics presented by Sir Robert Mark? Does the Minister think that those figures support Sir Robert Mark's assertions or go against them?

Mr. Carlisle

From the fact that the greater includes the lesser, presumably the figure for women acquitted of shoplifting comes within the general overall total. The figure Sir Robert Mark gave of 45 per cent. to 50 per cent. was of those who are acquitted by a jury on trial at quarter sessions and higher courts. I remind hon. Members that 70 per cent. of those who go to a higher court plead guilty. What we are talking about, therefore, is 50 per cent. of the 30 per cent.