Table 1 outlines the number convicted of shoplifting broken down by sex while Table 2 shows the same information broken down by age group. The average custodial sentence lengths for shoplifting offences are documented in Table 3.
Data cover the calendar years 1997 to 2006 (the latest available years) and are collated on the principal offence rule; so only the most serious offence with which an offender is charged is included.
Male Female Total 1997 543 247 790 1998 571 240 811 1999 469 164 633 2000 512 231 743 2001 453 178 631 2002 409 162 571 2003 417 183 600 2004 392 170 562 2005 354 203 557 2006 349 146 495
Age group 10-17 18-24 25-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60 and over Missing1 Total 1997 175 214 93 167 83 41 12 5 790 1998 162 227 104 157 105 47 9 0 811 1999 111 173 79 138 74 40 11 7 633 2000 167 189 90 155 82 43 17 0 743 2001 166 171 65 108 80 37 4 0 631 2002 149 158 59 100 69 29 7 0 571 2003 119 176 61 110 88 42 4 0 600 2004 118 163 58 112 62 39 10 0 562 2005 73 189 59 108 86 39 3 0 557 2006 60 152 61 107 64 40 11 0 495 1 Missing data relate to those offenders for whom age information is not available.
Number sentenced to immediate custody Number for which sentencing length data are available1 Average sentence length (in months) 1997 79 66 3.9 1998 100 89 4.2 1999 101 98 5.5 2000 119 107 4.0 2001 82 76 3.2 2002 85 84 3.4 2003 82 78 4.1 2004 74 67 3.6 2005 73 68 3.4 2006 58 57 3.3 1 The difference in the number sentenced to immediate custody and number for which sentencing data are available relates to the number sentenced to training school orders (1997-99) and Juvenile Justice Centre orders (1999 to 2006). Data on sentence lengths for these types of disposal are not available. In 2000, there is one additional offender for whom the sentence length is not available.