HARSHER sentences for shoplifters are being called for by a local MP who claims the crime costs UK businesses £1bn last year.

The Vale of York MP, Anne McIntosh, has welcomed the second reading of her Theft from Shops (Use of Penalty Notices for Disorder) Act in the House of Commons.

The bill gets its second reading in Westminster on June 19 with Miss McIntosh claiming there was in total 294,304 shop lifting offences in 2006-07.

She says the average amount stolen in each incident amounts to £149 with 15 per cent of those dealt with by a fixed penalty ticket never paying them.

The Conservative MP said the number of shoplifting offences dealt with by a fine rose from 2004-06 from 1.8 per cent to 27.2 per cent.

Miss McIntosh said: "I am truly disturbed by the growth in retail crime. Shoplifting is a serious offence and should be treated as such.

"The Government has encouraged the use of fines to replace court sentences as a means of combating retail theft.

"Fines clearly do not work as a deterrent. Fines may have a role to play but that role must be limited.

"Through my bill, I am seeking to amend the guidance issued to police to restrict the use of fixed penalties for theft from retail premises.

"Fixed penalties should be used only when dealing with first time offenders, who have no previous criminal convictions.

"Apprehended shoplifters must be punished appropriately, offenders with drink or drug habits must be rehabilitated, and the justice system must act as a deterrent to this costly crime."