Shoplifters ‘Not Being Pursued’
Thursday, 28th December 2017 at 8:38pmBBC News reports that retailers are warning that a sharp rise in shoplifting is being fuelled partly by police forces not investigating the theft of items worth less than £200.
Persistent offenders are apparently exploiting a change in the law that allows for more minor cases to be dealt with by post.
The £200 threshold was introduced in England and Wales in the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, which allows anyone stealing goods costing less than £200 to plead guilty by post – or face the magistrates’ court.
Chris Noice, from the Association of Convenience Stores, said criminals were getting savvy as to how much they could get away with, and only half of those caught were paying their fines.
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