Lets All Go Shoplifting!

Published on August 28, 2006 By Sally jacobs In Current Events

There are currently new laws trying to come in place here that would see shoplifters only having to do community service if they actually got caught. This is because so many come out of prison and offend again, and the folks here are actually more interested in why they are doing it in the first place. The majority of people do it because they have a drug habit to feed, and by shoplifiting they get to pay for that habit. Many shop owners here are disgusted at the lack of prison sentence that could be dealt to those that have tried to steal from them, and rightly so. There are a reason that we have punishments for crimes, it's not only so people can pay a price for what they have done, but it is also to put them off doing it the first place.

The current feeling now is, shoplifting could become an unpunishable crime, which isn't quite the case. The general idea from what I can gather is, that the punishment should fit the crime, and that the root of the reason behind it should be dug out, rather than throwing people in prison and in many cases them coming out much worse than they went in.

Shadow home affairs minister Edward Garnier called the panel's proposals "a significant softening" of the punishment for shoplifting.

And Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Mark Hunter called for a "better system of public service sentences" for offences such as shoplifting such as litter-picking and cleaning up graffiti.

In 2004, 61,670 adults in England and Wales were sentenced for shoplifting, with about 21% of them jailed.

Since November 2004, police have been able to deal with shoplifting cases up to the value of £200 with on-the-spot fines. Just over 14,000 fines were issued in the first nine months of 2005.

I can see the thinking behind this new way of punishing people, and I can see the approach that is trying to be taking, but I can't say I agree with it. If we profiled your average shoplifter. Someone who is already going against the rules of society, and the rules that the majority of people that are around them live by. Would they be the kind of person who responded well to the softly, softly approach? Or would they think, I need this money for whatever reason, and I can get away with it! Wahey! I'm sorry but I believe that is the case. The usual things that put other people off committing such crimes don't stop these people, so why should anything else. I believe you have to be tough with people, and the response will be better. Unfortunately I don't make these choices, and I am sure that in some cases, being tough isn't the best way to be. In alot of cases I think it is though.

Comments

Locamama

on Aug 28, 2006

Do they at least have to pay restitution or a fine? It's wrong but if it's a non-violent crime I think there may be a better way than jail time.

CharlesCS

on Aug 28, 2006

How exactly would a police officer fine a shoplifter if they had no identification? Just curious cause if they can't then all they have to do is leave their wallets at home.

I think that prisons should be more than just a punishment, they should not onlykeep them from enjoying the good things in life, they should also educate them better, show them a better way, stop illegal drugs from reaching the inside, in other words try to make them better people by keeping away those things that keep them or make them worse inside of jail. Just an idea.

dynamaso

on Aug 28, 2006

Interesting... I'm not a fan of locking people up for anything except violent crime. Prisons tend to become learning centres for soft criminals, often leading them to committ larger crimes or even become violent themselves. It is simply not a good system, although I can't offer a viable alternative.

Shoplifting is apparently a 'victimless' crime, although as I see it, there is always a victim. But by locking up people for crimes such as shoplifting, fraud or use of 'soft' drugs, to name a few, is only placing a burden on an already-taxed system. Get the buggers to sweep streets, clean public toilets or something as equally horrendous to fill their punishment. Or bring back stocks. I see public humilation as probably the best way for someone committing these sorts of crimes to be punished. Maybe the stocks could be erected outside the target business. It might not be good for the offender from a short-term psychological point of view, but it will certainly teach them not to shoplift again.

ParaTed2k

on Aug 29, 2006

The killer with shoplifting is (from my experience in stop loss security) most county prosecutors aren't willing to charge or bring shoplifters to trial, so most never even see a day in court, much less jail.

The other problem is many retailers (basically since prosecutors ignore shoplifters in general) have picked some random dollar amount to even pay attention.

The New York Times (being on the side of terrorists and criminals anyway) recently published an internal memo from Wal~Mart setting $25 as the magic number.

So, yeah, if you're at Wal~Mart, pretty much anything of less than $25 is fair game. Other retailers haven't fallen under the NYTs less than ethical eye, so who knows... take your chances I guess.

Shoplifting increases the price of doing business in retail. The store chain I worked in was willing to pay the security company for which I worked a pretty penny for our services. Why were they willing to pay us? Because as much as it cost to have us there, it was nothing compared to what was walking out the door (often in the hands of employees).

The fact is, in the law enforcement world, shoplifting is just a prank. Cops would rather not bother with all the paperwork (and who can blame them), prosecutors shrug their shoulders, judges don't consider shoplifters worthy of their busy dockets.

The other side of that coin is though, the ones who get caught are almost always small time, the "professional shoplifters" rarely (if ever) get caught... they are pretty good and use high tech tools for the job (like magnetic underwear and ipods/palm pilot looking gadgets that disable censors). So that also fuels the apathy fire.

jennifer1

on Aug 29, 2006

Since November 2004, police have been able to deal with shoplifting cases up to the value of £200 with on-the-spot fines. Just over 14,000 fines were issued in the first nine months of 2005.

It would be interesting to just how many of those fines were actually paid. I also ask the question, the money paid on the fine, to whom does it go?

A very interesting article Sally. I agree with you, they are being rather silly in their approach to things. (reminds me of those repeat youth offenders that got a paid holiday to Africa!).

The prisons may be overflowing, if that is the case; build more, and reform the prison sytem to encourage people not to re-offend.

jennifer1

on Aug 29, 2006

crimes such as shoplifting, fraud or use of 'soft' drugs, to name a few, is only placing a burden on an already-taxed system. Get the buggers to sweep streets, clean public toilets or something as equally horrendous to fill their punishment

Kind of like a chain gang?

Yes, all well and fine, but at the end of the day, they should be returned to their prison cell. They should still be taken out of society to feel some loss of freedom. (in my opinion anyway.)

ParaTed2k

on Aug 29, 2006

Bring back the Stocks for small time, low dollar, not violent, petty thieves!

http://parated2k.joeuser.com/index.asp?AID=93375

jennifer1

on Aug 29, 2006

Bring back the Stocks for small time, low dollar, not violent, petty thieves!

haahha good idea!

dynamaso

on Aug 29, 2006

Bring back the Stocks

Oh well, at least there is someone else out there thinking like I do.

they should be returned to their prison cell

As I see it, this would defeat the purpose of having them do their time in other ways. Incarceration for these people is not the answer, IMO. Maybe it could be that they're given the option of being 'confined' to their own homes while serving the sentence or they will be locked up.

Negativerealityinversion

on Sep 05, 2006

Your all going to think im a barbarian but to be brutaly honest with you, i think we should bring back the birch (supervised by a medical team of course). Prison is to expensive and dosnt work, its a badge of honour to have been to prison. ASBOs are another badge worne with pride (uk). Criminals show off their electronic tags to eachother with glee as if it was a trophy.
I know it sounds awfull but after a few lashes these young hoolagans realy will think twice next time. All these bleeding heart sociologists have had their chance but have failed. The govenment isnt prepared to build more prisons to hold these people so what els can we do?. Im 40 and was caned at school for telling my math teacher to f--- off. I dont sware at people anymore, funny that.

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