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<p>Shop theft is a high-volume crime that has a significant impact on retailers and
the wider community. This is why we encourage retailers to report these crimes to
the police, so that proportionate action can be taken against those who commit these
offences.</p><p><em>By virtue of section 176 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and
Policing Act 2014, </em>the shoplifting of goods of a value of £200 or less is a summary
offence unless the defendant, if an adult, elects to be tried in the Crown Court.
Where a summary offence, the case can be handled as a police-led prosecution, and
the defendant will be given the opportunity to plead guilty by post.</p><p>Police-led
prosecutions were introduced to improve the efficiency of the criminal justice system
by allowing for a simpler, more proportionate police-led process in high-volume, low-level,
uncontested cases. We have not undertaken a specific assessment of the effect of this
approach in relation to shop theft, including in relation to any regional variations
in retail crime offences. However, the National Retail Crime Steering Group which
I co-chair with the British Retail Consortium provides a forum for addressing issues
in relation to shoplifting, which is a priority issue for the Steering Group.</p>
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