§ Mr. Jannerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now send a further circular to chief officers of police to draw particular attention to the suitability of cautioning in respect of juveniles, the elderly and infirm and persons suffering from physical and mental illness, mental impairment or emotional distress, before instituting procedures for shoplifting.
§ Mr. Giles ShawHome Office circular 14/1985 draws the attention of the police to the suitability of cautioning offenders who are juveniles, elderly or infirm, of suffering from physical or mental illness, mental impairment, or emotional distress in any case where the circumstances of the offence are not particularly serious. The police will have regard to these factors in cases of shoplifting as well as in other offences. The decision on whether to caution or institute a prosecution in individual cases is a matter for chief officers of police, having regard to all the circumstances of the offence.