Lord Dholakia the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats speaking in the House of Lords in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill moved an amendment to use this Bill to remove Section 176 From the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act passed in 2014 . He spoke of the impact of shoplifting on retail businesses.
Lord Dholakia said,” it is estimated by the British Retail Consortium that businesses lose £770 million a year to shop theft—and retail theft crimes are rising year on year. According to figures available from the Home Office, there was an overall increase in retail theft of 19.1% between 2014 and 2018, compared with an increase of 4.96% between 2010 and 2014”.
Lord Dholakia continued, by citing Section 176 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 , he said, “This allows anyone accused of shoplifting anything under £200 to plead guilty by post, just as if they had been given a parking ticket”.
He continued by saying, “This is said to be a cost-saving exercise, but the truth is that it does not save money. In fact, it does the opposite, as everyone loses, customers who end up paying higher prices or the retailers who lose their jobs when the business fails”.
Lord Dholakia gave the example of Thames Valley Police who inform local shops that they will not send out officers to deal with shoplifters who steal less than £100-worth of goods. He said “This action has, therefore, reduced the deterrent to theft and the punishment that an offender can expect, just one in 20 of all shoplifting offences are now prosecuted.
Lord Dholakia spoke of how soul destroying it must be for hard-working businesses to have their livelihood literally stolen away from them. He mentioned the British Independent Retailers Associations crime survey for 2021 which showed that businesses are losing more and more each year to this type of crime, as it is currently being left unchecked.
He continued, “ Shop theft is not a victimless crime; in fact, smaller independent retailers feel the impact of retail crime more acutely than larger retailers, A small retailer operating on a typical margin of 8% would need to sell £2,500-worth of goods to make back £200 of stolen goods. In addition, they are often working alone, unable to call in back-up from another staff member, and left literally at the mercy of the perpetrator and the trauma of the event.”
Lord Dholakia said, “How can this be right? The removal of this legislation would send a signal to those who perpetrate shop theft: that you will be prosecuted; your actions matter; and you will be held to account.
It would show that this Government really hold our retailers, who have kept our country going through the pandemic, in high regard, and that the retailers can have confidence that justice will be served.
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This is a timely comment as this highlights the detrimental effect on smallholders who work hard to earn up to £200 which the Police have placed a limit before they investigate. Small businesses do not have money for security and CCTV evidence is pointless when the thief knows there is no one going after them. Crime is encouraged by such ridiculous provisions