§ Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) men and (b) women were imprisoned for shoplifting offences in Greater London in the last five years. [158441]
§ Paul GogginsThe information requested is shown in the table.
Number of persons sentenced to immediate custody at all courts for stealing from shops and stalls in the Greater London Area1, 1998 to 20022 Sentenced to immediate custody Offence Year Male Female Total Stealing from shops and stalls 1998 1,957 415 2,372 1999 2,225 418 2,643 2000 2,394 481 2,875 2001 2,290 435 2,725 2002 2,730 518 3,248 1Metropolitan and City of London police force areas. 2 These data are on the principal offence basis. It should be noted that courts' sentencing decisions are influenced by the seriousness of the offence and take into account previous convictions.
1174WStatistics for 2003 will be published in the autumn.