‘Stop sending shoplifting women to jail’

MORE than half of women sent to prison by North Wales courts over the last four years were on shoplifting charges, figures have revealed.

It has sparked concerns that the region’s courts are too tough on women caught stealing from shops.

They fear those sentenced may be suffering social problems and jailing them may only make their issues worse and traumatise their children.

Now there are calls for courts to decrease the numbers of women jailed for the crime.

Statistics released by the Ministry of Justice show 123 women have been immediately sentenced to prison for shoplifting over a four-year period, with the figure rising from 10 in 2010 to 45 in 2014.

That figure accounted for more than half of all the other crimes committed by women.

Former chief probation officer for North Wales, Howard Thomas, said: “In the main such women have a myriad of problems ranging from addiction, mental health issues and often a history of abusive relationships.

“There is no way that prison can address these problems, and the challenge for all those in the Criminal Justice System must be to seek relevant ways of dealing with them in the community.

An additional problem is dependent children, with the distinct possibility that their lives are negatively impacted upon.”

Gemma Fox, of the North Wales Women’s Centre, said: “The figures are frightening. It is complete madness.

“This is just setting up a revolving door and is damaging families.”

Jenny Earle, of the Prison Reform Trust, added: “There needs to be a more effective response that tackles the underlying causes.”

A Ministry of Justice spokeswoman said: “It is a matter for courts to impose the sentence and they will follow guidelines by the Sentencing Council.”

The Sentencing Council was asked to comment.