Calpol is the most popular item for shoplifters in an east London borough, a council report has revealed.
“Desperate” parents are swiping the children’s cough syrup with data revealing the theft of baby essentials spiking in Tower Hamlets amid the cost-of-living crisis.
It came as Bow Food Bank reported that 50 per cent of residents accessing their food bank are in “some kind of employment”.
“The number one shoplifting item according to Safer Neighbourhood Team is Calpol,” the report found.
“Desperation has led to an increase in theft. Shoplifting of essential items and medicine has increased. Theft of essential products for babies is also on the rise.”
Lutfur Rahman, mayor of Tower Hamlets, called reports of Calpol being stolen “utterly devastating”.
Mr Rahman told BBC London: “It shows how much the cost-of-living crisis is hurting our residents when they cannot afford basic medicines for their children.”
He promised to implement measures including free schools meals for primary and secondary school-aged children and providing more than £1m to local food hubs to help his constituents.
He added: “As much as we’re doing, we are limited as a council.
“Central government needs to step up and provide more help to residents, so they are not forced into a situation where they are having to choose between heating and eating, or even stealing, in order to support their families.”
The report also found that many households were skipping meals and going hungry, and amongst other measures are using the toilet multiple times before flushing to save on pre-payment meters.
The committee heard demand for cold tinned food in food banks has gone up due to rise in energy bills with many preferring cold food over using energy to heat or cook food.
Tower Hamlets the highest level of child poverty in the UK with over 50 per cent of children living in households below the poverty line after housing costs.
Over the past 5 years, the number of children estimated to be living in low-income families in Tower Hamlets increased by more than 6,000.
Tower Hamlets is one of the most deprived boroughs in the country. In 2019/20 the overall poverty rate in Tower Hamlets was 39 per cent, the highest rate in London.
The report will be discussed at an Overview and Scrutiny Committee on April 24.
