§ Rev. William McCreaasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will call for a report from the Chief Constable on the latest estimate of the amount of money lost through shop thefts reported to the police.
§ Mr. Scott[pursuant to his reply, 24 January 1984, c. 518]: Information on the total value of property lost through shoplifting offences reported to the Royal Uster Constabulary is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Statistics are, however, kept by the RUC in those cases where there has been a conviction or an admission of responsibility. The estimated value of property stolen in such cases in 1982 was £68,580. The figure for 1983 is not yet available.
§ Rev. William McCreaasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 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.
52W
§ Mr. Scott[pursuant to his reply, 24 January 1984, c. 518]: Statistics on prosecutions for shoplifting during each of the five years from 1978 to 1982 are as follows:
Persons prosecuted Persons pleading guilty Percentage of persons pleading not guilty, who were subsequently accquitted 1978 733 632 36 1979 819 747 61 1980 845 771 60 1981 1,323 1,189 72 1982 1,381 1,226 66 Statistics for 1983 are not yet available.