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Press Release

Don’t go soft on shoplifters, FSB tells Government

18 November 2006

Responding to a consultation from the Sentencing Guidelines Council, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) called on policy makers not to go soft on shoplifting.

The FSB is particularly concerned at proposals to drop custodial sentences, even for persistent offenders. Small firms are being victimised by repeat offenders and research has shown that almost all offenders sentenced for theft from a shop had a previous conviction.

FSB members cannot understand why the Government attaches more importance to protecting the individual in their home than in their place of work.

The consultation period closed on November 16 2006.

David Croucher, FSB Crime Policy Chairman, said:

“We literally cannot afford to go soft on crime against businesses. They are vital parts of the community, providing jobs, services and funding for local projects. They need to be supported if communities, particularly in deprived areas, are to survive.

“The proposal to remove the custodial sentence for repeat shoplifters sends out the wrong message to both businesses and criminals and we believe that it must be dropped.

“Our members believe that persistent offenders in particular have to be dealt with firmly to act as a deterrent to prevent future theft. The threat of a custodial sentence must remain for persistent shoplifters.”



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Federation of Small Businesses

Federation of Small Businesses

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