Don’t let folks off if they steal food in desperation, minister tells police | Police

The policing minister, Equipment Malthouse, has disputed the suggestion of the chief inspector of constabulary, Andy Cooke, that the cost of living crisis will set off a rise in crime, branding it “old-fashioned” thinking.

As inflation hit a 40-year excessive of 9%, Cooke said on Wednesday that officers should use their “discretion” when deciding whether or not to prosecute individuals who steal with a purpose to eat.

Appearing on ITV’s Good Morning Britain on Thursday, Malthouse, a longtime ally of Boris Johnson, mentioned Cooke’s thinking was “old school”, adding: “Because people are challenged financially … that doesn’t essentially mean they’re going to turn to crime.”

The chief inspector of constabulary is the pinnacle of the unbiased assessor of police forces in England and Wales. Cooke, a former chief constable of Merseyside police, took over from Sir Tom Winsor in the position final month.

Malthouse has advised officers to not let shoplifters off if they are stealing food out of desperation throughout the price of dwelling disaster.

He later informed LBC, ministers would guarantee police do not turn a blind eye to shoplifters stealing food.

“In fact I wrote to chief constables just a year or so in the past saying they should not be ignoring these seemingly small crimes,” he said.

Earlier, the minister informed Instances Radio: “The broad rule is that justice needs to be blind and I hope and consider that's the precept that sits behind not just the police but the operation of the courts as properly.

“I've to problem this connection between poverty and crime. What we’ve found up to now, and the place there's now growing proof, is that truly crime is a contributor to poverty. That in case you take away the violence and the crime from individuals’s lives they often prosper more than they otherwise would.”

Cooke had earlier stated: “The impact of poverty, and the affect of lack of alternative for individuals, does lead to a rise in crime. There’s no two methods about that.”

When requested how policing may avoid being seen because the arm of an uncaring state, he mentioned forces across England and Wales had been skilled in coping with the tensions and dynamics of their communities.

“What they’ve bought to remember is what is the smartest thing for the group, and that individual, in the way they cope with these points. And I certainly absolutely assist law enforcement officials using their discretion – and they need to use discretion extra usually.”