Police Chief Warns Of Surge In Crime As Cost Of Living Crisis Fuels Poverty

The cost of living crisis will trigger an increase in crime and officers should use "discretion" when deciding whether to prosecute people who steal in order to eat, the new chief inspector of constabulary has said.

- Vikram Dodd

"The impact of poverty, and the impact of lack of opportunity for people, does lead to an increase in crime. There's no two ways about that," said Andy Cooke, as inflation hit a 40-year high of 9%.

When asked how policing could avoid being seen as the arm of an uncaring state, he said forces across England and Wales were skilled in dealing with the tensions and dynamics of their communities.

"What they've got to bear in mind is what is the best thing for the community, and that individual, in the way they deal with those issues. And I certainly fully support police officers using discretion - and they need to use discretion more often."

Cooke said he was not advocating an amnesty for people who committed crimes of poverty, or "giving a carte blanche for people to go out shoplifting". Instead, he advised officers to make sure such matters of law enforcement were "dealt with in the best way possible". In a wideranging interview, Cooke also said:

Every burglary victim should get a visit from the police.

Forces may be marked down by the inspectorate if they fail to do so.

The charging rate for recorded offences should more than treble, from the current 6% to at least 20%.

The criminal justice system is failing victims of rape.

Policing is still recovering from cuts inflicted by Conservative-led governments from 2010.