An anti-poverty campaigner has urged authorities not to punish people who commit crimes linked to the cost-of-living crisis. John Holland McKendrick, professor of social justice at Glasgow Caledonian University, hopes the police and prosecutors will go easy on desperate offenders.
He wants officers to be sympathetic when called to alleged shoplifting incidents when suspects are accused of stealing essentials. The academic, who is co-director of the university’s Scottish Poverty and Inequality Research Unit, said: “No one wants to promote or support criminal activity.
“However, it is criminal that people in 21st century Scotland cannot afford to feed themselves or their families. The community food sector – food banks, pantries and larders – are doing their bit to tackle food poverty.
“We need to show some understanding when our most desperate are stealing food when it is their only way to feed themselves. Prosecuting the destitute for stealing food should not be the default position.”
It comes as the country’s top children’s charity said it is bracing itself for a record number of calls for support as the cost-of-living crisis worsens in Scotland. Children 1st pleaded with struggling families to contact the organisation to ensure they get the help they need.
Police Scotland Assistant Chief Constable Kenny MacDonald said officers would “use their discretion to determine the best course of action based on the circumstances”.
He added: “The decision as to whether an individual should be prosecuted or not rests with the Crown Office Procurator Fiscal Service.”
A spokesperson for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service said: “Scotland’s prosecutors deal with every case on its own individual facts and circumstances and take appropriate action where they assess there is sufficient admissible evidence that a crime has been committed and it is in the public interest to do so.”
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