§ 57. Mr. Jannerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many, and what percentage, of women who were tried on indictment with shoplifting in 1984 and who pleaded not guilty were acquitted.
§ Mr. MellorThe available information relates to all those proceeded against for stealing from shops, irrespective of plea and is published annually in "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales, Supplementary Tables 1983," (tables S1.1(A) in Vol. 1 and S2.1(A) in vol. 2 under offence classification 46). Of the total of females who were found guilty of acquitted of stealing from shops at all courts in England and Wales in 1983, 9 per cent. were acquitted. Reliable information on plea is not available; nor is information yet available for 1984.