Coordinator calls for changes to address shoplifting, focusing on addiction support and community service.
Stuart Brotherton works with local shops. He says addiction causes a lot of theft, and believes more addiction help is needed. He wants courts to change how they punish thieves.
He prefers community service for shoplifting offenders so they can give back to the community. A recent report showed huge retail losses. Crimes cost stores £2.2 billion, and violence rose a lot too. Shoplifting is also up in Lincolnshire.
Mr. Brotherton thinks the problem will worsen without legal changes. He says a few people do most of the shoplifting, and claims addiction fuels this. People steal to feed their drug or alcohol habits.
This is common in Spalding and Lincolnshire. He has never seen shoplifting this bad. He says that addressing addiction is key and it is important to manage repeat offenders.
Currently, stolen goods under £200 get a light sentence. The maximum sentence is six months, but many get a suspended sentence. Mr. Brotherton wants magistrates to use community service more.
He thinks the country can learn from other ways to deal with repeat offenders, especially the ones who have not improved with addiction help. Mr. Brotherton really likes community work sentences. It lets offenders give back to the community. Prison does not help, he says, and it can make people worse.