Don't jail shoplifting mothers, says Kennedy

Women who shoplift should not be sent to prison, the Liberal Democrats claimed today.

Party leader Charles Kennedy believes women with children should not be jailed because of the effect on families.

He claims jailing them creates long-term problems for society and says they should instead be sent on "rehabilitation" programmes. The policy will be resisted by retailers,

who lose millions of pounds a year to shoplifting.

Mr Kennedy spoke out against jailing female shoplifters as the Liberal Democrats unveiled their law and order manifesto for the election.

Mr Kennedy's spokesman hinted that male single parents could also expect to be spared from prison.