Police issue food bank guidance to shoplifters in Fordingbridge

POLICE tackling shoplifting in Fordingbridge have been helping offenders get support from food banks and drug rehabilitation services.

This comes amid a spate of store thefts plaguing the New Forest and Christchurch.

Posting online, the town’s officers said several outcomes, including court summons and cautions had resulted from work with local retailers to identify those responsible.

“As part of addressing local shoplifting, police have worked with offenders and provided assistance claiming food vouchers and providing advice on how to access local food banks,” they explained.

“Police have also liaised with drug support groups and encouraged people abusing substances to make use of support services available to them.”

The officers highlighted the community fridges at both Fordingbridge and Ringwood libraries.

These take donations from local people and businesses of fresh food that would otherwise be wasted.

Residents can then collect the food for free without the need for food vouchers.

More information about food banks and community fridges can be found online at fordingbridge.gov.uk/helpful-cost-of-living-resources