§ Mr. McCrindleasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, under the new proposals recently announced, magistrates will be able to impose longer sentences and higher fines on those who are convicted of high value shop thefts; whether the penalties relating to offences involving violent and pornographic video nasties will similarly be increased; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MellorThe proposed order announced in reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Surbiton (Mr. Tracey) on 20 February will increase from £1,000 to £2,000 the maximum fine available to magistrates for theft. The Crown court may impose a fine of any amount for theft. The order is intended to increase maximum financial penalties to take account of inflation and will not alter maximum terms of imprisonment.
The order will also double, to £20,000, the exceptionally high maximum summary fines for offences concerning the licensing of sex shops and sex cinemas under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 and the Cinematograph (Amendment) Act 1982. We intend to bring forward an amendment to the Video Recordings Bill on Report to increase similarly the exceptional maximum summary fine proposed for offences relating to unclassified video recordings.