A local British police chief who advised shopkeepers in his area not to ”bother to report” shoplifting crimes involving goods valued at less than £75 (about R800) has been criticised by his superiors, who apologised for his ”mistake”.
Shopkeepers in Bournemouth, southern Britain, who were told in a police letter that minor shoplifting offences were a ”drain on resources”, complained that the police were giving thieves a ”licence to steal”.
In his letter, Gordon Wallis, from the local Bournemouth force, wrote: ”I respectfully request that prior to calling the police, consideration be given as to whether the matter could be dealt with within the store. I would like to recommend that the police are not called in the case of goods below a value of £75.”
After outraged local shopkeepers took the matter up with their MP, the police chief for the southern county of Dorset apologised for the ”gaffe” on Thursday.
The letter was sent out ”without consultation” and all allegations of crime will be recorded, police Superintendent Nick Hazelton said.
”While sent with the good intention of reducing crime, the letter was a mistake and incorrect,” he added. — Sapa-dpa