- New laws designed to deter repeat shoplifting and petty
theft
- Reforms to expand the range of sentencing options available
to courts when dealing with these offenders
- Follows increased
penalty for assaults on retail workers announced last week
Repeat offenders charged with low level stealing offences will now face
jail time, with the Cook Government set to expand the range of sentencing
options available to the courts.
As the law currently stands, where a person is charged with stealing an
item valued at $1,000 or less, and dealt with in the Magistrates Court, a 'fine
only' penalty of $6,000 applies.
The other sentencing options available to the court are a suspended
fine, conditional release order, or community based order. A term of
imprisonment cannot be imposed, regardless of the circumstances of the offence
or the person, including previous offences.
The reforms remove the 'fine only' penalty limit where a person is
convicted of a stealing offence, or an attempted stealing offence, and has two
or more prior convictions for a stealing offence in the past 12 months.
These repeat offenders will instead be subject to the higher maximum
penalty of two years imprisonment and $24,000 when dealt with summarily, providing
more effective deterrence and opening up the full range of possible sentencing
options to the court, including a potential term of imprisonment.
Comments attributed to Premier Roger Cook:
"My Government is
standing up for small business owners, many of whom are families, as well as
their hard-working staff who've quite rightly had enough.
"Serial shoplifters
shouldn't be allowed to snub their nose at the law and that is why my
Government is taking action.
"This new crackdown
specifically targets repeat offenders who simply refuse to respect the
community and the courts.
"This common-sense
sentencing option will send a clear message to those criminals who think they
are above the law."
Comments attributed to Attorney General John
Quigley:
"Shoplifting is a pervasive issue that all retail workers confront,
which particularly impacts small businesses. The 'fine only' penalty for low
level stealing offences is well known in the community and does not provide a
sufficient deterrent for would-be offenders.
"Under these important reforms, repeat offenders will be subject to the
higher penalty of two years imprisonment and $24,000, opening up the full range
of possible sentencing options to the court, including a potential term of
imprisonment.
"The increased maximum penalty will provide a more effective deterrent
for those offenders who would otherwise engage in repeated shoplifting and
petty theft, and ensure that courts have the power to impose sentences that
reflect community expectations.
"These reforms, combined with the increased penalty for assaults on
retail workers that were announced last week, will make retail environments a
safer place for employees, and importantly, the community."
