Vale of York MP Anne McIntosh has tabled an Early Day Motion to promote support for her Shoplifting Bill
In her bill, the MP calls on the Government to amend the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) guidelines to ensure that the issuing of penalty notices reflect police judgement that the individual has the capacity to pay.
When submitting the motion, she mentioned that there were 290,625 recorded incidents of retail theft in 2007-08 and that 40% of Penalty Notices for Disorder (PND) went unpaid.
“With an expected rise in shoplifting offences in the run-up to Christmas,” added McIntosh. “I am urging police to issue fixed penalty notices only in those cases of first time offenders in a position to pay where the value of goods stolen is below £100.”
She also urged for the reassessment of sentencing when it comes to offenders with drink or drug problems and that the Police National Computer is constantly updated so repeat offenders can be given appropriate sentencing, stating that “these changes are necessary to make sure that fixed penalty notices are used effectively”.
This is not the first time McIntosh has broached the issue of fixed penalty notices. In July of this year, she read out a 10-minute rule bill calling for the removal of fixed penalties due to them being an ineffective deterrent for shoplifters.
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