British struggle with the lifted cost of living become addicted to a shoplifting “high” according to addiction experts. Hundreds of people have turned to stealing to feed their families as a result of higher Prices at the shops.
Staff at the UK Addiction Treatment Centers have seen a sharp increase in people seeking help for shoplifting addiction, The sun reports.
The organization, which specializes in the care and treatment of people with an addiction disorder, received an average of about 30 calls per week so far this year, compared to only 10 per month in 2022.
Head of treatment, Nuno Albuquerque, said: “Shoplifting addiction gives the thief the same ‘rush’ or ‘high’ that a person using drugs or alcohol would get.
“For most, the feeling only lasts a short time.”
Charities and community groups grappling with the increasing demands of society’s most vulnerable learned this week that they will be awarded part of a £100 million aid package announced in the budget.
The money is likely to go to organizations in England providing essential emergency aid, such as shelter, food and heating.
About three quarters of the funding will be used to provide grants in the following year as charities struggle to deal with the increased cost of living, rising demand for their services and reduced donations.
Many of the organizations that could benefit from this have played a vital role in supporting people during the pandemic and have been called upon again to help communities as household budgets are squeezed.
The Charities Aid Foundation’s chief executive, Neil Heslop, welcomed the move as “half of all charities say they are currently worried about their future”, especially as additional government support for utility bills is tapering off for many this month.
Mr Heslop said: “Charities across the country continue to face rising costs, increased demand for their aid and declining donations, so this recognition of their work is a step in the right direction.
“We look forward to hearing more about how this additional money will be spent on those most in need.”
Secretary of Culture Lucy Frazer said it was “vital” that such groups “continue to provide specialist help and advice to those most in need”.
She added: “This package means charities can support organizations whose services are in demand and provide relief during this challenging time, while also providing funding for energy efficiency measures to reduce their future operating costs.”
About a quarter of the money will be used to fund measures over the next two years to increase the energy efficiency and sustainability of voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations.
These may include new boilers, heat pumps and insulation, enabling them to provide more efficient services to vulnerable individuals.
This comes on top of £20m in funding from the government’s dormant assets scheme announced earlier this month.
Forecasts published alongside Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s budget suggest the UK economy will pass a number of grim milestones in the coming years. This includes the largest decline in disposable income since measurements began.
The increase in the cost of living means real disposable household income per person is expected to fall by 3.7 percent in 2022/23 and 2.0 percent in 2023/24, according to the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR).
The OBR forecasts that the overall tax burden in the UK will rise to the equivalent of 37.7 per cent of GDP (gross domestic product or the total value of the economy) by 2027/2028.
This is the highest level since World War II. It was previously predicted to peak at 37.5 percent of GDP in 2024/25.