ACS Calls for Review of Penalty Notices
31 May 2007
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS), the campaigning voice of over 33,000 local shops, has called for a fundamental review of the way Penalty Notices for Disorder (PNDs) are being used to tackle shop theft.
PND’s were introduced in 2001 to tackle low-level anti-social behaviour, including shop theft offences of up to £200, and to reduce police bureaucracy in dealing with these crimes.
ACS supported the introduction of PND’s to reduce the administrative burden on police and to create a mechanism for better recording of first time offences, making it easier to identify repeat offenders.
The Home Office has also introduced a new scheme to allow offenders to defer their PND. The Acceptable Behaviour Contract (ABC) is a written agreement stating a list of acts that the offender must keep to. Offenders who behave according to the contract for the specified time, between three and six months, will be able to avoid paying their PND fine of either £50 or £80.
ACS is calling for a fundamental review of the way PNDs are used, James Lowman, ACS Chief Executive, said: “We believe that there are real opportunities to build on the work that the Government has done to tackle anti-social behaviour in the community and make a real difference to shop theft. However, we have serious concerns at the number of PNDs that are being issued, and particularly who they are being given to.
“When they were first introduced it was claimed that PNDs would be given to first time offenders, and only after consultation with the retailer, returning some power back to the victims. However, there are numerous examples of PNDs being used to punish repeat offenders, without consultation, and with the new ABC scheme it seems that even those who do receive them can defer the punishment. This leaves many retailers feeling that they are not an effective deterrent to potential shop thieves.
“We need a review of the PND system to establish how PNDs are used and how effective they are as a deterrent, and we need more information on the collection rates of PNDs. If PNDs are proved to not act as a deterrent to shop theft then we believe they should be abandoned.”
Contact:
Shane Brennan Public Affairs and Communications Manager
01252 515001 / 07921 372978
Rachel Lawson Communications Co-ordinator
01252 515001
Michael Saxton Grappa PR
020 74864448
Notes to Editors:
1. ACS is the convenience store champion, helping local shops thrive through lobbying, insight, information and commercial services.
2. A Penalty Notice for Disorder of £80 can be handed out for retail theft of up to £200. However under Home Office Guidance, negotiated with retailers, the limit should be £100
3. Under the guidance a PND should only be given to a first time offender and in consultation with the retailer.
PND’s were introduced in 2001 to tackle low-level anti-social behaviour, including shop theft offences of up to £200, and to reduce police bureaucracy in dealing with these crimes.
ACS supported the introduction of PND’s to reduce the administrative burden on police and to create a mechanism for better recording of first time offences, making it easier to identify repeat offenders.
The Home Office has also introduced a new scheme to allow offenders to defer their PND. The Acceptable Behaviour Contract (ABC) is a written agreement stating a list of acts that the offender must keep to. Offenders who behave according to the contract for the specified time, between three and six months, will be able to avoid paying their PND fine of either £50 or £80.
ACS is calling for a fundamental review of the way PNDs are used, James Lowman, ACS Chief Executive, said: “We believe that there are real opportunities to build on the work that the Government has done to tackle anti-social behaviour in the community and make a real difference to shop theft. However, we have serious concerns at the number of PNDs that are being issued, and particularly who they are being given to.
“When they were first introduced it was claimed that PNDs would be given to first time offenders, and only after consultation with the retailer, returning some power back to the victims. However, there are numerous examples of PNDs being used to punish repeat offenders, without consultation, and with the new ABC scheme it seems that even those who do receive them can defer the punishment. This leaves many retailers feeling that they are not an effective deterrent to potential shop thieves.
“We need a review of the PND system to establish how PNDs are used and how effective they are as a deterrent, and we need more information on the collection rates of PNDs. If PNDs are proved to not act as a deterrent to shop theft then we believe they should be abandoned.”
Contact:
Shane Brennan Public Affairs and Communications Manager
01252 515001 / 07921 372978
Rachel Lawson Communications Co-ordinator
01252 515001
Michael Saxton Grappa PR
020 74864448
Notes to Editors:
1. ACS is the convenience store champion, helping local shops thrive through lobbying, insight, information and commercial services.
2. A Penalty Notice for Disorder of £80 can be handed out for retail theft of up to £200. However under Home Office Guidance, negotiated with retailers, the limit should be £100
3. Under the guidance a PND should only be given to a first time offender and in consultation with the retailer.