The best way to reduce crime is to cut poverty and inequality, Andy Cooke, who is retiring as chief constable of Merseyside police, told the Guardian. He said that if he was given £5bn to slash crime, he would use 80% of the funds to tackle poverty. “The best crime prevention is increased opportunity and reduced poverty,” he told the paper. Mr Cooke has started a new role as one of the inspectorate of the constabulary.