Question
This week is the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers’ annual Respect Week to raise awareness of the impacts of retail crime. From working with Thames Valley police in my patch, I know that a significant proportion of shoplifting is done by a small number of shoplifters who are repeat offenders and is often linked to substance abuse. Local Reading charities like Change Grow Live do great work to combat that. What more can the Department do to support that work and tackle the cycle of reoffending?
Answer
My hon. Friend raises an important point: around 60% of crimes are committed by 9% of offenders. Prolific offending is clearly a challenge that we need to address. That is why we are expanding intensive supervision courts, which combine intensive rehabilitative sentences with close judicial oversight to reduce repeated offending and ensure punishment that works, as well as investing in rehabilitation. Reducing reoffending and relieving our prison capacity challenge is a key focus for us.17% vibes
Verdict: AMBER (45/100)
The reply responds to the question about what more can be done, pointing to a concrete policy: expanding intensive supervision courts and investing in rehabilitation. However, it does not mention local charities, Change Grow Live, or support for voluntary-sector providers, which was the main focus of the question. It also gives no figures or timescales for these measures, so the asker would likely need to ask again for specifics.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| What more can the Department do to support local charities, such as Change Grow Live in Reading, in their work combating substance-linked repeat shoplifting and reoffending? | Partially Addressed | Generic | The reply never mentions local charities, Change Grow Live, substance-linked shoplifting, or any form of support for voluntary-sector providers; it addresses reoffending and prolific offending in general, through intensive supervision courts and rehabilitation investment, so only the broad topic is touched. |
| What more can the Department do to tackle the cycle of reoffending? | Addressed | Direct | The reply names a concrete step for the 'what more' question, expanding intensive supervision courts that combine rehabilitative sentences with judicial oversight to reduce repeat offending, alongside investment in rehabilitation, which answers the question at the level of policy. It gives no figures or timescales for these measures. |