MP redoubles attack as Fixed Penalties soar

A Conservative MP is to step up her campaign in parliament to sort out what she believes is the patchy and ineffective way that shoplifting is tackled by the police and courts.

Anne McIntosh, MP for the Vale of York, will again put forward an amended early day motion in February for debate in the House of Commons in March on the subject of Fixed Penalty Notices..

Her move follows the release of the latest figures on the number of fixed penalty notices (FPNs) handed out by police for retail theft, which show a 16% increase to 45,100 in 2007. Only 42% of the £80 'on-the-spot' fines were paid.

McIntosh said that although some progress had been made - such as last month's decision to retain the option of custodial sentences for shop theft - further parliamentary debate was needed.

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