Fury at 'let-off' plan for thieves

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Criminals who would be in line for £80 fixed penalty notices can have their fines deferred if they agree to sign an Acceptable Behaviour Contract (ABC).

If the offender behaves for the duration of the ABC - which can be as little as three months - police will cancel the fine.

The scheme provoked an angry reaction from the retail trade and opposition politicians.

Shadow home secretary David Davis said it was a "watering down" of the criminal justice system while trade body the British Retail Consortium (BRC) accused the Government of treating criminals like "naughty schoolboys".

In 2004, police were given the power to issue £50 or £80 Penalty Notices for Disorder (PNDs) instead of an arrest for a range of offences such as thefts of goods worth less than £200, being drunk and disorderly and wasting police time.

The Home Office said the new plan would not replace on-the-spot fines, stating it was just a different tool to help police tackle the root cause of anti-social behaviour.

Mr Davis told reporters: "It is bad enough such serious crimes are effectively being punished with a glorified parking ticket. Now we learn the Government won't even bother to collect the fine.

"Recent figures show that only half of all PNDs are being paid. The Government's response is to give up enforcing them. Despite their tough talk, this is yet another example of Labour watering down our criminal justice system."

The BRC said the suspended fine further undermined an already "dangerously eroded" system of penalties for shoplifting.