Don’t let individuals off in the event that 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 price of dwelling crisis will trigger an increase in crime, branding it “old-fashioned” thinking.

As inflation hit a 40-year excessive of 9%, Cooke mentioned on Wednesday that officers ought to use their “discretion” when deciding whether or not to prosecute people who steal with the intention to eat.

Appearing on ITV’s Good Morning Britain on Thursday, Malthouse, a longtime ally of Boris Johnson, said Cooke’s thinking was “old style”, adding: “As a result of 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 impartial assessor of police forces in England and Wales. Cooke, a former chief constable of Merseyside police, took over from Sir Tom Winsor in the role last month.

Malthouse has told officers to not let shoplifters off if they're stealing food out of desperation during the price of residing crisis.

He later told LBC, ministers would ensure police don't flip a blind eye to shoplifters stealing food.

“In reality I wrote to chief constables just a year or so ago saying they should not be ignoring those seemingly small crimes,” he said.

Earlier, the minister told Instances Radio: “The broad rule is that justice ought to be blind and I hope and imagine that is the principle that sits behind not just the police but the operation of the courts as nicely.

“I have to problem this connection between poverty and crime. What we’ve discovered previously, and the place there is now growing evidence, is that really crime is a contributor to poverty. That if you take away the violence and the crime from people’s lives they typically prosper greater than they otherwise would.”

Cooke had earlier mentioned: “The affect of poverty, and the impression of lack of alternative for people, does result in a rise in crime. There’s no two ways about that.”

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

“What they’ve received to bear in mind is what's the best thing for the community, and that particular person, in the best way they deal with these issues. And I actually fully help police officers using their discretion – and they should use discretion extra usually.”