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Mr. Greville Janner
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will issue a circular to police forces requesting them to undertake prosecutions for shoplifting in cases in which they at present advise shopkeepers to institute private prosecutions.
Mr. Brittan
No. The policy of the police on the prosecution of such offences is a matter for the chief officer of police concerned and the wider topic of private prosecution is within the terms of reference of the Royal Commission on Criminal Procedure which is now sitting.