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Grampian's chief constable has admitted he fears a rise in petty crime as cuts to welfare budgets hit home.

It followed Aberdeenshire councillor Allan Hendy warning a joint police board meeting that people would turn to theft and everyone would suffer.

Chief Constable Colin McKerracher agreed that he believed a rise in criminality was inevitable.

However, he said the force was working with other public bodies to try to minimise the impact.