FOOD shoplifting and electricity meter fraud are on the rise locally due to the cost of living crisis, according to the area's top police officer.

Inverclyde's area commander Paul Cameron has confirmed the force has seen an increase in cost-of-living related crimes.

He says some local people are resorting to stealing food and energy in the wake of ever-increasing prices household bills.

Murdo Henderson, one of the district's top fire officers, also says he is concerned about the danger of locals using alternative means to heat their homes.

The bleak picture and warnings emerged during a meeting of the council's Police and Fire Scrutiny Panel, following questions from councillors James Daisley and Colin Jackson about the ongoing squeeze.

Chief Inspector Cameron said: "Traditional shoplifting is still there, and we are seeing an increase in food shoplifting taking place as well.

"I don't have the actual figures on that but the cost of living is impacting upon people really hard.

"We have seen a number of incidents involving electricity meters, and I know that's not shoplifting but it's the same situation with the cost of living.

"Electricity meters are being bypassed and we've ran some safety awareness sessions around that for the public, to highlight the dangers and the fire risks in particular.

"Bypassing electricity meters has certainly increased in the area.

"We've reported quite a few people [to the procurator fiscal] for that as well.

"It's difficult times and people are turning to difficult measures."

The Scottish Fire & Rescue service's Inverclyde group commander Mr Henderson told councillors that he was worried about items such as candles being used by locals to heat their homes when winter bites, prompting an urgent plea to members of the public.

He added: "It's highly likely that people will be looking for alternative means to heat and light their homes.

"This gives the advent of candles or the old Super Ser gas fire that's not been used for years coming back out, in addition to the matters that Chief Inspector Cameron has talked about with regards to the bypassing of meters.

"These all give the potential that we have an increase in fire hazard.

"I want to make an impassioned plea to people - we're here for advice and support, we carry out free home fire safety visits to combat that and from the end of October we're also carrying out partnership training for all areas of local authority and the third sector."