ACS

Anne McIntosh, MP for the Vale of York and Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Thirsk and Malton, has today re-laid her Early Day Motion (EDM) to promote support for her Shoplifting Bill.

The EDM followed recent figures that showed:

• There were 290,625 recorded incidences of retail theft in 2007-08
• 40 per cent of all Penalty Notices for Disorder (PND) go unpaid
• Multiple PND are being issued to some individuals who have no means of payment or intention to pay, PND should only be issued when there is likelihood of payment
• Less than 50 per cent of all community orders were served in full in 2007

Ms McIntosh is urging the Government to amend the Association of Chief Police Officer guidelines to ensure that the issuing of PND reflect police judgement that the individual has the capacity to pay, and that a PND is the most appropriate sentence in the circumstances. She is also calling for the Government to ensure that the Police National Computer is maintained and updated at all times and does not allow for the issuing of repeat PND across constabularies. Further still Ms McIntosh urges the Sentencing Guidelines Council to ensure that community orders are completed in full, and that the sentencing guidelines are enforced to ensure that offenders with drink or drug problems are issued with sentences that recognise those problems with an appropriate rehabilitation order. She also recommends that sentencing guidelines be revised to ensure that strict sentences are issued when a PND is not paid within 21 days, or where repeat or aggravated offences are committed.