Shoplifters banned from Co-op in Fordingbridge under police community resolution

Two shoplifters have been banned from the Fordingbridge store from which they stole £150 of steak and told to write apology letters.

Police issued the community resolutions to the women, a 22-year-old from Christchurch and a 21-year-old from Poole, who came forward following a CCTV appeal.

They accepted responsibility for the theft, which took place at the Co-op on High Street on 20th August.

The resolutions’ conditions include an order not to enter the shop for 12 months. Both women must also send a letter of apology.

Posting online, local police explained: “A community resolution is a method of restorative justice and is an alternative way of dealing with less serious crimes and incidents, allowing officers to use their professional judgement when dealing with offenders.

“It can be used for offences such as low-level public order, criminal damage, theft, and minor assaults, where the victim has agreed that they do not want the police to take formal action.”

But some people took to the comments to express their frustration at what they saw as an inadequate response to the offence.

One wrote: “Write a letter and not attend the shop for 12 months? No wonder this country is in the state [it] is in. Crazy.”

Responding, the officers emphasised the resolutions could only be issued with the victims’ support.

They said: “Community resolutions are a proven and very effective tool at dealing with first-time offenders.”