Don’t let folks off if they steal meals 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 dwelling crisis will trigger an increase in crime, branding it “old school” thinking.

As inflation hit a 40-year high of 9%, Cooke mentioned on Wednesday that officers should use their “discretion” when deciding whether or not to prosecute people who steal in order to eat.

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

The chief inspector of constabulary is the head of the independent assessor of police forces in England and Wales. Cooke, a former chief constable of Merseyside police, took over from Sir Tom Winsor in the function last month.

Malthouse has informed officers to not let shoplifters off if they're stealing meals out of desperation during the cost of living crisis.

He later instructed LBC, ministers would ensure police do not turn a blind eye to shoplifters stealing meals.

“In truth I wrote to chief constables only a 12 months or so ago saying they shouldn't be ignoring these seemingly small crimes,” he said.

Earlier, the minister instructed Instances Radio: “The broad rule is that justice must be blind and I hope and consider that is the principle that sits behind not simply the police but the operation of the courts as well.

“I've to challenge this connection between poverty and crime. What we’ve found in the past, and where there may be now growing evidence, is that actually crime is a contributor to poverty. That if you happen to take away the violence and the crime from people’s lives they often prosper more than they otherwise would.”

Cooke had earlier mentioned: “The affect of poverty, and the influence of lack of alternative for folks, does lead to 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 mentioned forces across England and Wales were skilled in coping with the tensions and dynamics of their communities.

“What they’ve obtained to bear in mind is what is the best thing for the group, and that particular person, in the way in which they take care of those points. And I actually absolutely help cops using their discretion – and they need to use discretion extra typically.”