Background notes
Shoplifting is often viewed as a minor crime, but if unchecked the effect on retailers can be serious. For many young people being caught shoplifting is also their first brush with the law.
According to the British Crime Survey carried out by the Home Office in 2003, of the 20 main offences that teenagers commit, shoplifting and theft from school were started earliest. They also found that a large minority of teenagers had stopped shoplifting because they had either been caught by the police or feared that they may be caught - the figure was between a third and a fifth of those interviewed.
The findings from the 1998/99 Youth Crime Survey found that after the age of 16 years teenagers were committing fewer shoplifting offences but were increasingly involved in fraud and buying stolen goods. It also noted that girls under the age of 16 years were most likely to be involved in shoplifting.
Shoplifters are not necessarily the poor or needy; people who need to airlift themselves out of the comfort zone shoplift. Millions of bikinis, batteries, chocolates and lipsticks are stolen every year. Numerous celebrities have been caught shoplifting including Winona Ryder and Tracey Shaw from Coronation Street. One shop owner is quoted as saying that teenage girls who shoplifted were an important marketing tool, because they really knew what the hot trends were. Also touched on in this programme is the fact that Kirsty was not only guilty of shoplifting for herself but also then selling on the goods to a third party. Selling stolen goods is an offence in its own right (this is outlined in the 1968 Theft Act). Sentencing for theft can be very severe indeed, with a maximum sentence of 7 years' imprisonment. The more serious crime of selling on stolen goods can carry a sentence as high as 14 years.
Shoplifting costs retailers millions of pounds every year, and whilst it may be the realm of professional, organised shoplifting teams it is also often a first time offence. Milton Keynes has set up an initiative known as The Retail Theft Initiative, also known as RTI, which focuses on first time offenders. On being caught shoplifting they are invited to the police station for an in-depth interview with a police officer. Based on the information given, a plan of action is drawn up from a menu of diversionary sessions, which are run at the police station. Examples of options available include 'protective behaviours' tutoring, whereby participants are shown how to say no to peer pressure and bullying. They also offer a session with two prison officers that gives an insight into the realities of prison life and a group discussion with professional youth workers exploring attitudes and their consequences. The entire scheme is underpinned by the principles of restorative justice. The sessions encourage young offenders to take responsibility for their behaviour and accept that their actions do have consequences.
