§ Mr. Chaterasked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the small fines imposed by some magistrates on traders found guilty of persistent stealing and use of other traders' milk bottles; and whether he will consult with the President of the Board of Trade with a view to circularising magistrates with a recommendation that fines should be made sufficiently heavy to make continued offences of this kind unprofitable, bearing in mind that some offenders are repeatedly found guilty, but the fines imposed do not act as a deterrent?
§ Mr. H. MorrisonIn dealing with offences of all kinds, it is the duty of magistrates to keep in mind the need for penalties which shall be appropriate for the purpose of deterrence, and I have no information to suggest that in dealing with offences of the kind to which my hon. Friend refers, courts are unmindful of this duty. No doubt his Question will serve a useful purpose in drawing attention to this matter, but I do not think a special circular is called for on this subject.