Don’t let people off if they steal food in desperation, minister tells police

Kit Malthouse says police watchdog's suggestion that cost of living will trigger more crime is old-fashioned'

The policing minister, Kit Malthouse, has disputed the chief inspector of constabulary Andy Cooke's suggestion that the cost of living crisis will trigger an increase in crime, branding it old-fashioned" thinking.

As inflation hit a 40-year-high of 9%, Cooke told the Guardian that officers should use their discretion" when deciding whether to prosecute people who steal in order to eat.