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.
