Western Morning News (Saturday)
Police won’t investigate theft from West hotel
ACORNISH business owner has branded the police’s response to a theft as “shocking” after she was told investigating it wasn’t a good use of police resources.
Hannah St Ledger Brown runs Zucchini Italian Kitchen at Penhallow, between Truro and Newquay. In December Hannah reported to Devon and Cornwall Police that a person had left the hotel without paying a bill of £178.90.
Hannah reported the guest’s name and his place of work as well as the name of the person who booked the room through booking.com. She also handed over CCTV showing the guest looking for cameras, seemingly showing an intention to leave without paying. She also contacted booking.com, who told her it was a police matter.
Following a review Hannah received the following response from a PC: “Hello Hannah
Having reviewed the crime I feel this matter should have been taken up by Booking.com and a refund or relevant reimbursement offered to you through that avenue.
Having assessed the fact the crime was committed back in December and the likely protracted and costly investigation between various forces at this stage I do not deem this to be an efficient use of local Police Resources as the bill came to £178.90.
We have of course recorded the incident for your records and would suggest you provide this reference to Booking. com to reimburse you.
Kind Regards PC XX
Hannah, who has since reported the matter to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, said she is furious. “I have literally given the name of the bad guy, his employer, and have CCTV evidence of him doing a runner and solid proof he did not pay and knew he had left no method of payment,” she said. “The amount of investigation effort would be pretty low, this isn’t exactly an Agatha Christie whodunnit.”
She said by the logic of the note no low value theft will be investigated. “Is this a new policing policy that I am not aware of?” she asked.
Devon and Cornwall Police has been contacted for comment.