Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to table amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill to enable private prosecutions of shop thieves.

We would encourage retailers to report all instances of shop theft to the police. We have no plans to include an amendment to enable private prosecutions of shop thieves to the Bill. Shops and retailers can currently make their own decision to bring private prosecutions against shop thieves if they have the needed evidence.

However, we are repealing the legislation which makes shop theft of and below £200 a summary-only offence, sending a clear message that any level of shop theft is illegal and will be taken seriously.