§ Mr. Altonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were prosecuted for shoplifting in the last year; and what guidelines he issues to the police on the prosecution of shoplifting offences.
Mr. BrittonInformation on the number of persons prosecuted for shoplifting is published annually in the "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales" (table 1(a) of the volume for 1978 (Cmnd. 7670). Information for 1979 will be published towards the end of November. In common with our predecessors, we have not issued guidance to the police about the prosecution of these offences, which is a matter for the discretion of individual chief officers.