Shopkeepers say police have given thieves a ‘licence to steal’ after they were told officers would ‘probably not’ turn out to reports of shoplifting.
Business owners in Nottinghamshire reacted angrily to comments by the county’s Crime Commissioner Paddy Tipping, who suggested tight budgets meant many cases would not be investigated.
It comes just days after plans to stop prosecuting drug addicts and ‘low-level’ dealers emerged in Durham. Last month it emerged that the Met Police may stop investigating car crime and criminal damage to save money.
Police in Nottinghamshire will not investigate shoplifting, the area’s crime commissioner said
Nottinghamshire crime commissioner Mr Tipping said: ‘We will do our best with the resources we have got. Is shoplifting as important as investigating a serious sexual assault? It is not.
‘So there are jobs that we do at the moment that will have to take a lower priority. If people report shoplifting will the police come? Probably not.
‘We don’t go out to attempted vehicle break-ins unless the person is vulnerable. People are upset about that but it is a reality.
‘As things toughen up there will be jobs that happen where the police will not attend. I think it is clear – if we don’t come we don’t investigate it.’
The move has angered local shopkeepers, some of whom say they are being put out of business by thieves.
Eve Cope, 63, whose clothing store in Nottingham closed after 35 years in January said: ‘Small independent businesses cannot afford the loss from shoplifters.
‘Police are inviting shoplifters to come and take from us and heading small businesses in the city out of business.’
Shopkeepers in Nottingham city centre are furious at the ‘licence to steal’ message going out
John Barlow, 45, who runs a newsagents in Bulwell, Nottingham, said: ‘The police are basically telling thieves, ‘help yourselves!’
‘Of course there are more serious crimes police need to solve but you can’t just give thieves a licence to steal.’
The suggestions came despite the force receiving more than 8,700 reports of shoplifting in the last year.
Craig Guildford, Chief Constable of Nottinghamshire Police, said: ‘Clearly any reduction in police funds will have an impact.
‘Consequently like any other public service we must prioritise where areas of high harm and vulnerability exist for example sexual offences against children and adults.
‘When we are forced to make significantly difficult choices crimes of less impact upon vulnerable people will obviously come behind crimes of greater impact.
‘We will always take reports seriously and investigate where there are lines of enquiry. If a shoplifter is detained (in a store) we will be going to make that arrest.’