Homeless men over the age of 25 are said to be the main offending group who have latched-on to the method of obtaining the popular hearty snack and a roof over their heads.
Solicitor Julia Brassington of Moss Solicitors in Leicestershire lifted the lid the phenomenon and claims many don't have a choice but to commit crime. Julia said: "Breaking the law to get a bed and a Pot Noodle is very sad but for some people this seems the only way to get a scrap of food and roof over their heads.
"If a defendant does not have an address then they are likely to be remanded in custody overnight and many homeless men know this. They also know that they will get fed with a Pot Noodle at the police station and that is an attractive prospect to them. Some people get so desperate that they feel that the only way to receive support for being homeless is to commit crime. But this just makes things worse.
"Having a criminal record goes against you receiving any help in finding a home or a job or even just a shelter for the night. I don't want to seem to be having a go at the police as they are being very kind in offering food to a hungry man. Perhaps if the Pot Noodle was not on offer many of these minor crimes would not take place. It is a catch 22."
Project worker for North East homeless charity, Aquila Way, Jeanna Shalkowski, confirmed that the "Cop Noodle" option was familiar to many homeless folk. She said: "Police often offer food to homeless taken into custody and more often than not it is some sort of ready meal like a Pot Noodle. The appeal to commit a crime just for a snack doesn't seem much, but for some it can seem the only way of getting food."
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