HWBIDCo: What defines a thief?

Imagine the scenario. You are a parent who has received a phone call from store security in the town centre telling you that your son or daughter has been caught shoplifting.

What is your reaction? Are you full of disbelief, incredulous, exasperated or simply in denial?

How do you treat your off-spring when you go to collect them? Will you ever be able to trust them again?

These, and other challenging questions are put to parents and first-time shoplifters in High Wycombe during an early evening Restorative Justice meeting.

Our session seeks to draw out the reasons behind first offences and the impact that being caught could have on the rest of the lives of the individuals concerned.

The concept comes from the Maoris who believe in resolving issues face-to-face and through discussion and debate. We use it in High Wycombe to work with young first-time offenders. We offer a one-chance-only alternative to criminalisation.

Sessions are held monthly and are attended by between six and eight young people. Each one is accompanied by a parent or guardian. There is no criminal justice involvement. The success rate is staggering - only three known re-offenders in almost three years.

Many young people who are caught have never thought-through the implications of their actions.

Restricted travel, limited education and unavailable career opportunities will influence future life choices. Loss of trust and guilt, for many, will dominate social interaction. And for what, less than five pounds worth of goods?

Those who attend the sessions are more than likely to be well cared for and to have many of the possessions that define a mainstream teenager. Many have more money in their pocket than the value of the goods taken.

Restorative Justice includes those who were there but did not actually take anything. We invoke “guilt-by-association”. Most knew what was happening.

So why run the sessions? Surely an offence is an offence and, as they say, “you do the crime you do the time”. Well, in theory yes, but Restorative justice is by no means the easy option.

At an objective level, it is said that each session saves the taxpayer and prosecuting parties a collective £6,000 per offender who can be dealt with in this alternative way.

At a human level, we dig behind the bravado, the denial and the “elephant in the family-room” to explore the implications of what is sometimes a spur-of-the-moment choice, taken in the pursuit of peer acceptance. Genuine tears are not uncommon.

Our approach is one of early intervention. Shoplifting is not a victimless crime. In fact, every household in the UK contributes towards the cost of these actions. Shoplifting is also seen as the first step, for some, down the wrong path.

If we can address the causes early-on, point out the consequences to those that might otherwise be looking at a promising career, and enable parents and children to really talk about the implications of a wrongful action, all in a protected environment, then we are winning.

We also point out the science of security, body language and the criminal justice route. Our young people are banned, we do remember them and this offence will be taken into consideration if they are caught again.

So go back full circle to the opening paragraph. How would you respond to this parental defence?

“My daughter is a good girl; she goes to Guides and she volunteers. She has been brought up well.”

Our response, “She is still a thief. However, that does not mean once a thief, always a thief.” We don’t believe in second chances. This is the one and only chance to mend their ways. Offend again and we will vigorously pursue a prosecution.

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