Jim Shannon – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2014-04-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to increase sentences for shoplifting.

Jeremy Wright

The maximum penalty for theft is seven years’ imprisonment. The independent Sentencing Council is responsible for issuing guidelines which all courts must follow when determining the appropriate sentence in each case, within this maximum penalty. On 3 April, the Council opened a consultation on a new draft guideline for theft offences. The consultation period ends on 26 June 2014 and is open to everyone. The responses received will inform the definitive new sentencing guideline for theft offences in due course.