Staffordshire’s Police & Crime Commissioner has welcomed plans to put new measures in place where police and other community services work together to help people who turn to criminality out of desperation.
It follows this week’s controversy over a man arrested for shoplifting who had been cautioned and then handed vouchers by the police to obtain food.
Mr Ellis said: “ I support the work underway to put more comprehensive measures in place to help people the police deal with who are in dire need of support. Other agencies such as Social Services and Local Authorities have more expertise to offer a rounded approach to help an individual’s situation than the police possibly can so it’s crucial that the mechanisms are there to make sure that happens.
“We can’t allow any sense that the answer to a person’s situation is committing crime particularly when that will affect someone’s future prospects. Joined up services are crucial in these cases whilst maintaining the principle that crime mustn’t be tolerated.”
Chief Constable Mike Cunningham said: “Our review is ongoing and my staff are working with partner agencies to put in place a more joined-up system to signpost those in need to services who can give much wider support.
“As a front-line service the police regularly come into contact with individuals from all walks of life. Our job is to deal with offenders and find longer-lasting solutions to the underlying problems and issues that lead to offences in the first place.
“Some of the people who we see in custody can be extremely vulnerable for many reasons. I think we have a moral responsibility to help those in genuine crisis and despair so that they can have better, crime-free lives.
“Whilst only 8 out of the 5,833 people we dealt with in our northern custody facility were given a three-day food voucher, the commissioner and I completely agree we need to put in place a much more comprehensive, integrated and longer-term approach.”
