ACS Criticises Falconer's Comments
14 May 2007
The Association of Convenience Stores has criticised comments by the Minister for Justice, Lord Falconer, labelling them irresponsible.
Lord Falconer, head of the newly created Ministry for Justice, has spoken of his plans to soften sentencing. In a paper outlining future penal policy, Lord Falconer has said that alternatives to jail must be sort for crimes that generally carry a sentence of less than a year. This could result in shop thieves receiving even shorter sentences, and often avoiding custody altogether.
Other proposals in the report include removing suspending sentences as a punishment in favour of community sentences and reducing the penalty for criminals who violate their parole, who will now face a jail term of under 28 days.
Shane Brennan, Public Affairs and Communications Manager, said: “Lord Falconer has said that he the new Ministry will help and promote justice, but our members feel that they are being ignored. When someone steals for a shop, as from a home, a crime has been committed and it is only right that it should be punished.
“Devaluing these crimes by removing prison as an eventually punishment is irresponsible. It sends out completely the wrong message. It suggests that shop crime is not important crime, even though it costs businesses 2.1 billion last year.
“If the Government is serious about reducing crime and anti-social behaviour, they must move shop crime up their agenda. Local shops are at the heart of the community, and this needs to be reflected in Government policy.”
Contact:
Shane Brennan Public Affairs and Communications Manager
01252 515001/ 07921 372 978
Rachel Lawson Communications Co-ordinator
01252 515001
Notes to editors:
1) ACS is the convenience store champion, helping local shops thrive through lobbying, insight, information and commercial services.
2) Penal Policy- A Background Paper was published by the Ministry of Justice on 09/05/07.
3) Cost of shop theft taken from the British Retail Consortium Annual Retail Crime Survey.
Lord Falconer, head of the newly created Ministry for Justice, has spoken of his plans to soften sentencing. In a paper outlining future penal policy, Lord Falconer has said that alternatives to jail must be sort for crimes that generally carry a sentence of less than a year. This could result in shop thieves receiving even shorter sentences, and often avoiding custody altogether.
Other proposals in the report include removing suspending sentences as a punishment in favour of community sentences and reducing the penalty for criminals who violate their parole, who will now face a jail term of under 28 days.
Shane Brennan, Public Affairs and Communications Manager, said: “Lord Falconer has said that he the new Ministry will help and promote justice, but our members feel that they are being ignored. When someone steals for a shop, as from a home, a crime has been committed and it is only right that it should be punished.
“Devaluing these crimes by removing prison as an eventually punishment is irresponsible. It sends out completely the wrong message. It suggests that shop crime is not important crime, even though it costs businesses 2.1 billion last year.
“If the Government is serious about reducing crime and anti-social behaviour, they must move shop crime up their agenda. Local shops are at the heart of the community, and this needs to be reflected in Government policy.”
Contact:
Shane Brennan Public Affairs and Communications Manager
01252 515001/ 07921 372 978
Rachel Lawson Communications Co-ordinator
01252 515001
Notes to editors:
1) ACS is the convenience store champion, helping local shops thrive through lobbying, insight, information and commercial services.
2) Penal Policy- A Background Paper was published by the Ministry of Justice on 09/05/07.
3) Cost of shop theft taken from the British Retail Consortium Annual Retail Crime Survey.