NORTH Yorkshire is being hit by more shoplifting and minor theft as people steal to support themselves because of austerity cuts, the region’s top police officer has said.

Low-value items such as food and nappies are being more regularly stolen, according to North Yorkshire Police.

The force’s Chief Constable, Dave Jones, said officers were also seeing a rise in calls to their control room as budget cuts left people turning to police for services previously provided by charities and public bodies.

“We’re the last resort – we’re open 24/7 – and we’re trying to work out why people are calling us rather than other emergency services and charities, but it’s because of cuts,” he said.