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 Home Campaigns Freedom From Fear Resources
Fears over no jail for shoplifters
15 October 2006
Usdaw has slammed proposals that shoplifters may not be jailed and fear it could leave retail staff in more danger.
Retailers have joined the union in its condemnation of the Sentencing Advisory Panel (which advises government on policy) after it said jail should be reserved for cases involving 'aggravating' factors such as violence.
"Shoplifting is not a victimless crime and is regularly a flashpoint for violent assaults," said general secretary John Hannett. "With around 20,000 physical assaults on shopworkers every year, any suggestion that shoplifters won't be jailed at best is misguided.
"Our members tell us that when a shoplifter is challenged the response is either verbal and/or physical abuse.
"While these proposals do acknowledge that violent and persistent offenders should continue to be jailed where is the line drawn? This latest development sends the wrong signal to would-be offenders. "Britain's 2.7 million shop staff deserve better than this."
Recent studies have shown that:
- Verbal abuse in stores shot up 35 per cent last year.
- Physical assaults increased by 14 per cent.
- Retailers report that £588 million is stolen by shoplifters every year and those costs are passed on to the consumer.
- In 2004/05 police recorded 280,000 cases of shoplifting.
- Of the 61,670 adults who were sentenced, 12,950 were jailed, that is around 20 per cent.
The panel has asked for views to be submitted before November 16.
More at: www.sentencing-guidelines.gov.uk/index.html
- Since November 2004, police have been able to deal with shoplifting cases up to the value of £200 with on-the-spot fines. Just over 14,000 fines were issued in the first nine months of 2005.
- For more information on the union's Freedom From Fear campaign, visit: www.usdaw.org.uk/campaigns
- Tell us what you think. e-mail: network@usdaw.org.uk
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