Shoplifting: Sentencing

Miss McIntosh
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he plans to publish revised sentencing guidelines for shoplifting offences.

Mr. Straw
Sentencing guidelines are published by the independent Sentencing Guidelines Council, not by the Government. In December 2008, the Sentencing Guidelines Council published a definitive guideline on theft and burglary in a building other than a dwelling. I understand the Sentencing Guidelines Council has no plans to review the guideline on theft from a shop.