Hi All,Firstly I am very sorry of this.I was caught shoplifting with my wife a few days ago from Debenhams. The security guard took me into a room in the top of the store where they checked stolen items and found few other items from others stores. They took our details and gave us a 1 year ban from the store.

Then they called police because there were some other items stolen from other shops.The police officers got the details about our stolen items and wrote down in a notepad.They did not arrest us or take us to the police station.We have a 1 years 6 months baby.

They told us that we will receive a letter from court after few days and will have to attend court for our offenece.It is our first time offence.We are both over 18.Value of stolen property was 180 pounds from debenham and 120 pound from other shops.Please help me in the my below question.

1.what are the punishments for the shoplifting?

2.how can we resolve this matter with less punishment?

We would never do anything so stupid again.please help us.

Punishment for shoplifting from the courts is a small fine and a slap on the wrist.

For less punishment just plead guilty and tell the truth.

Moved to Retail LossPrevention/Other Shoplifting Issues

Moved to Retail LossPrevention/Other Shoplifting Issues

Plead guilty, if there are any mitigating circumstances make the court aware of them.Good luck

Thanks for all of your help.

How long it will take to come the court letter in my current residence address after my offence?My work permit Visa will expire after 3 months.

I will apply Visa again in next year.Is there any Visa rejection chance due to my shoplifting criminal record.

If you are convicted and sent to prison (most unlikely for a first offence of theft by shoplifting), a visa will be automatically refused, but you can apply again after 5 years for a sentence less than 12 months.

For conviction and a non-custodial sentence (which is the most likely outcome), or an admission and out of court settlement (e.g. a police caution), then refusal of a visa is discretionary. I suspect that these days refusal is quite likely.

Note that even if a visa is granted, entry clearance may still be refused under the above grounds.

Unless you are a habitual shoplifter and have been to court multiple times, there is ZERO chance of going to prison, or having anything other than a slap on the wrist or a fine.

Nonetheless, refusal of a visa or entry may still be the consequence of committing theft.

I have received two letters from RLP,one in my name and another with my wife name.First letter demanded fine of 255 pounds.The second letter stated the same amount. Also RLP mentioned that we should have to pay the fine within 21 days.

In the letter mentioned that court process is ongoing.

We are extremely worried.What shall we do? Should we have to pay both fine?Please help us .

Thank you in advance.

Hello again.

Can you type up what the letter says about the court process please? RLP have only been to court once recently, and it went very badly for them.

If you can let us know what the letter says about court proceedings, we'll be able to advise you.

And it's not a fine, only a court can impose that.

My best, HB

Stop saying fine. It isnt anything yo do with a fine.

Thanks for all of your help.

In the RLP letter it is mentioned that

"you are advised that this matter is in relation to civil proceedings, and is entirely separate from any police action or criminal proceedings which may be ongoing.The purpose of criminal proceedings is to convict,punish and rehabiliate,while our clients civil action is to be compensated for its losses and to server as a deterrent to further incidents.

We require payment or a response from you within 21 days from the date of this letter."

Till now we have not received court hearing letter.Please help us.what should we do now?

Ignore it. Thats one of their desperation letters.

I agree, Renegade.

Today after 2 months of my shoplifting I have received a call from a police officer of Manchester,UK.He told me that I have to go to manchester police station to receive a police caution for my first time shoplifting offence.

my questions are:

What is police caution for shoplifting?

I will apply Visa again in next year.Is there any Visa rejection chance due to my first time shoplifting police caution record?

Please help me.

Police caution is basically a slap on the wrist, possible penalty charge.

As for applying for a visa, its a hit or miss and pretty much depends on the border agent who stamps your visa.

Also, if RLP contact you again, PLEASE do not be tempted to pay them, thinking it will have some effect on the police matter. It wont.

Today after 2 months of my shoplifting I have received a call from a police officer of Manchester,UK.He told me that I have to go to manchester police station to receive a police caution for my first time shoplifting offence.

my questions are:

What is police caution for shoplifting?

I will apply Visa again in next year.Is there any Visa rejection chance due to my first time shoplifting police caution record?

Please help me.

A police caution is a formal warning. If you accept it, no further legal action will be taken and you won't have to go to court. You can refuse to accept it, but if you believe you are guilty, that would probably not be wise.

A visa could be rejected based on your police caution. However, of all the things that could have happened following this incident, this is the least serious. But yes, there is a chance you'd be refused a visa based on this offence.

Thanks for all of your help.

I will mention my shoplifting offence at the time of visa application.Then also is there any chance of my visa rejection?

Is there any time period for police caution?

Please help.

Rules about criminal records are complex. A police caution is normally "spent" after three months. This means that, for example, you do not have to declare it when applying for a job, unless the job advert states that the post is "Exempt under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974". Typically, these would be jobs working with children or vulnerable adults.

However, you do need to declare it when you apply for a visa the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act does not apply in this case. Probably a caution for a fairly minor offence will not result in them refusing you a visa, but it is possible.

After long time again I need your help.

I am going to apply for UK tier 2 ICT visa.

I found the guidance how to fill the application form,

there is a question only about criminal conviction

“Do you have any criminal convictions in any country (including traffic offences)?”

According to Law of UK

“A police caution is not a criminal conviction, but it could be used as evidence of bad character if you go to court for another crime.”

Do I have to declare about my police caution in UK visa application?

Kindly please help me.

After long time again I need your help.

I am going to apply for UK tier 2 ICT visa.

I found the guidance how to fill the application form, there is a question only about criminal conviction “Do you have any criminal convictions in any country (including traffic offences)?”

According to Law of UK “A police caution is not a criminal conviction, but it could be used as evidence of bad character if you go to court for another crime.”

Do I have to declare about my police caution in UK visa application?

Kindly please help me.

A police caution involves you making an admission of guilt.

As others have noted (back in 2013), you may be denied entry clearance : even with a visa!.

This could happen even to someone who already holds a visa who then accepts a caution (unlike you, who doesn't yet have a visa).

So, I'd suggest declaring it. You might want to put down "No convictions. I do have a police caution from "

That way you can't be accused of trying to conceal it, and IF your application is successful and it is raised in future you can point out "I declared it when I made my visa application, and they still granted me a visa", reducing the chance you get denied entry clearance.

Additionally, if you didn't declare it & the UKBA decided that not declaring it was a deliberate attempt to deceive : you would automatically be refused both the visa and future entry clearance, for a significant period (10 years from memory, though I haven't checked recently).

Hi

Absolutely agree with the other posters. Be open and honest with the visa application. IF you haven't come to the attention of the police in the intervening period, they may disregard this one issue but as has already been said, it's a bit hit and miss.

The alternative is to lie and once you get found out (and you will) they could revoke your visa.

There have been a couple of cases on CAG where this issue came up and (to my knowledge) one was successful and the other hasn't come back to update us.

On another point, what happened with RLP?