Tobias Ellwood MP has called for an urgent meeting with Dorset Chief Constable, Martin Baker to find out why retailers received a letter about shoplifting from Boscombe police, recommending that 'police are not called in the case of goods below a value of £75'.

The letter implies that Dorset police do not have the funds to meet the community's most basic policing needs. It also emerges that it takes constables two to three hours to process any offence, keeping officers at their desks and off the streets.

Commenting on the letter Mr Ellwood said:

"This is a very worrying development and goes against the Government's claim of more funding for community policing. There is simply no justification for letting a criminal off the hook entirely because calling the police will mean too much costly paperwork."

"It is today's petty criminals who unfortunately become the hardened criminals of tomorrow. If we do not stop youths shoplifting some will invariably go on to commit more serious crimes. This initiative will only encourage youths to shoplift goods under the value of £75 more often and place an unfair burden on retailers who should not be in the business of doing beat officers' jobs for them."

"Reference by the police to the Human Rights Act shows how political correctness continues to creep into our daily lives. If someone has committed a crime they should not be able to use an 'EU get out of jail free card' to avoid being charged."

Tobias will be writing to the Home Secretary for an explanation.