Shopkeepers not to report thefts?

How loopy is that? I mean, newsagents have a tough job making any money as it is without giving the kids free rein to nick as many sweets and treats as possible. I mean, one could nick quite a few of those before reaching the £20..and why £20? How have they come up with that figure? Bizarre to say the least! Well, I suppose the cops can just drive around instead of catching criminals. Cops here are huge and have been seen frequenting the doughnut shop on many occasions..I bet they don't have to pay either!

i do not understand why the police would say this.This only send a message you the community and everyone in it that you won't get a record for shoplifting and just be asked to leave.I hope that this gets changed after the amount of shoplifting goes thought the roof.When people consider shoplifting most don't as it could impact them getting a job.Hopefully this gets changed after it goes into affect as the thought of people getting away with theft even for 20 dollars is truly despicable.

That is unbelievable, that is just sending out a green light to everyone that a) theft is acceptable and b) theft is rewarding, all those £20 will mount up, what if one person went in and stole something under £20 and kept going into that same shop to do the same? Businesses are hit bad enough with the recession what is this going to do? It's lunancy utter lunancy, the government condoning thieving which is what this amounts too. I give up with this country, we've gone to the dogs well and truly. So theft is acceptable is it? Is it just a ploy to bring the crime rate down, not reporting it, good one government! Next theyll be saying you can get away with attacking someone you can't report you've been attacked only if you've been killed can you report it? Is this there way of getting the crime figures down? I am stunned, utterly stunned my friend! But then with this country I shouldn't be surprised any more.

hmm that doesn't make sense true 20 bucks may be small from one shop but if they steal 20 from 5 shops that would be 100 bucks they get away with

I do think that announcing to the public that "small" thefts won't be reported will increase shoplifting. It's sad that all over the world we are choosing to "look the other way" because of "small crimes." It is the small crimes that turn into big ones. If kids are scared the first time they are caught they may not be brave enough to try again tomorrow or next week. Yes, theft is theft. Period. It is not okay to steal something just because it is a small cost.

The fact is that the police are probably overwhelmed but the reason for this is that petty thefts and other petty crimes are not dealt with and so the criminals merrily carry on and thus there is more crime so the police are overwhelmed... This also happens in schools where small "incidents" are virtually ignored so they are rife and the perpetrators think they can do anything they like. A friend of mine, who works as a technician, had a laser pen shone in her eye by one pupil (the pens are illegal and the police class this as assault) and his punishment was to miss ONE lunch break. He could have permanently damaged her eye sight. What kind of message does ignoring things that are wrong send to these kids? That it's okay to grow up to be a thug!

Many times even here in the US you hear of stories like this. A lot of the time, it is because they do not want to be bothered with the Small thefts, and think it is nothing serious not realizing sometimes that when they allow the small things to get away with many times it will lead to something bigger, but since investigations, etc. cost $$ they need to focus more on the Bigger ones.

Hello Derek, I do not quite approve of this Derek. This will have an irreversible effect on the society and as you have said, people who are inclined towards thieving will have their way easily. Having said this, the shop owners would devise some kind of penury limited to their jurisdiction. I am not sure though if in UK this would be viable.

Hello friend I agree with you theft is theft, whether you steal a chocolate or rob a bank, the chocolate thief of today becomes the bank robber in future if not controlled or guided.. I think your country will have more criminals in future because of wrong policy.. Thanks for sharing. Welcome always. Cheers. Professor

Hi derek_a! Sounds to me that people are encouraged to steal below £20 in the UK. I agree with you that no matter how small the amount is 'theft is theft and should always be reported'. If the law is not tough enough, people would be tough enough not to be on its side.

Hello Derek. This sounds like the police are just trying to make their job easier. I know it costs a lot of money to prosecute someone but people need to be stopped from stealing even if it's only something small. This is so stupid.