Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many incidents of shoplifting in each parliamentary constituency in the East of England have led to a conviction resulting in (a) probation and (b) a custodial sentence in each year since 2006.

Shoplifting can be a serious offence which can damage livelihoods. For cases taken to court there is a wide range of sentences available on conviction, including custody for the most serious examples.

Sentencing in individual cases is a matter for the courts, taking into account the circumstances of each case and imposing a sentence which is proportionate to the seriousness of the offence.

Defendants proceeded against, found guilty and sentenced to a community sentence or immediate custody for shoplifting offences in the East of England, by police force area, from 2006 to 2013 can be viewed in the table.

Data cannot be separately analysed by parliamentary constituency.