§ Mr. Peter Bruinvelsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he makes of the trends in the level of proceedings against, and cautions issued to, persons aged over 70 years in respect of alleged offences of shoplifting, in the light of figures given in his answer to the hon. Member for Leicester, East on 28 November, Official Report, c. 353; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MellorThe available information is given in the attached table. The number of shoplifting offenders prosecuted as a proportion of those prosecuted or cautioned decreased from 27 per cent. in 1980 to 21 per cent. in 1982. Police cautioning practice in England and Wales is being reviewed by a working group of chief officers of police and officials with a view to recommending a basis for more consistent practice.
Persons aged 70 and over proceeded against in magistrates' courts or cautioned for offences of shoplifting England and Wales Number of persons Proceeded against Cautioned 1980 916 2,478 1981 672 2,277 1982 626 2,357
§ Mr. Freesonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department which police authorities do not take responsibility for handling all stages of shop theft proceedings whether or not the defendant pleads guilty.
§ Mr. MellorThe decision whether to prosecute on behalf of the Crown in any case of alleged shop theft is a matter for the chief officer of police concerned. Private prosecutions do not require his approval, although the police may provide the prosecutor with assistance where appropriate. I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that in the Metropolitan police district12W large stores and supermarkets are expected to undertake their own prosecutions for shop thefts unless there are special circumstances. No such general policy exists in other police forces in England and Wales, although as a matter of practice some large stores in provincial cities routinely undertake prosecutions for shop theft. Apart from these routine practices in London and elsewhere relating to large stores, some other private prosecutions take place other than on a routine basis in all parts of the country.
§ Mr. Freesonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions for shop theft there have been in each of the last five years; how many defendants pleaded guilty; and of those pleading not guilty what percentage were subsequently acquitted.
§ Mr. MellorI shall reply as soon as possible.
§ Mr. Freesonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the latest estimate of the amount of money lost through shop theft.
§ Mr. MellorThe information available on the value of property stolen in offences of shoplifting recorded by the police in England and Wales, is published annually in "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales"—table 2.13 of the volume for 1982, Cmnd. 9048.
§ Mr. Freesonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce measures to ensure that in all future shop theft proceedings the police handle all stages of the prosecution.
§ Mr. MellorIn the context of the introduction of an independent prosecution service, officials are discussing with the Commissioner the practice followed by the Metropolitan police in this respect.