HELPING rather than prosecuting women caught stealing food to feed their families is reducing reoffending, says a North-East police commissioner.

Durham police and crime commissioner Ron Hogg has declared an innovative scheme to tackle shoplifting by providing support to female offenders a major success.

The initiative has been running for more than a year in County Durham and Darlington.

Women caught shoplifting food to feed their families - who admit the crime - are offered the chance to receive support to help address the reasons behind the theft.

This could include assistance managing their finances or help with drug and alcohol problems.

Organisations including local authorities and charities help to provide the support.

Women who successfully complete the scheme escape prosecution, while those who deny the crime or fail to complete the programme are still prosecuted where appropriate.

Mr Hogg told The Northern Echo that three quarters of women who took part in the scheme did not reoffend, compared to an 80 per cent reoffending rate among those women who did not take part and were prosecuted.

"By being proactive and sympathetic to the cause of shoplifting, we are cutting reoffending dramatically," the commissioner said.

Mr Hogg said he though the scheme would work before its launch, however he added: "I am surprised at the massive scale of the success.

"The traditional methods of dealing with low-level crime like this simply do not work."

Police across the region say food theft has increased in recent years due to pressure on family finances due to economic factors.

Products such as cheese and meat among the most stolen items, according to one report.

The commissioner said his force was finding that it was not just people on benefits who were stealing to eat.

"There are a lot of people who are working who still can't make ends meet."

Mr Hogg stressed that repeat offenders caught shoplifting food would still be charged, adding: "If people persist we have no problem prosecuting."

He said the scheme had the full backing of Durham chief constable Mike Barton.

"He would say it's not going soft on crime, it's going sensible," the commissioner added.