A North East policing boss says she is "disgusted" at central Government as a third of the region's children face Christmas in poverty.
Police and Crime Commissioner Kim McGuinness said the North East is "levelling down" during a visit to Clothe and Feed in South Shields.
This comes after grim figures from the Department for Work and Pensions show 37% of all children and young people across the North East were living in poverty in the three years prior to the Covid-19 pandemic.
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It is the equivalent to more than 11 children in a classroom of 30 across the region, and up from an average of 34% in the three years before.
Newcastle has the highest rate of child poverty in the region at 27.2% followed by South Tyneside at 25%, and they are among the 20 worst areas in England.
Ms McGuinness said she is "disgusted" that Government isn't doing more.
She said: “To think of any child having a miserable Christmas is heart-breaking but to think one in three kids in our region will be spending Christmas living on the breadline, which is many more than other areas of the country – it makes me cross and I feel disgusted the Government isn’t doing more.
“In recent years the North East has seen a dramatic jump in the number of children growing up in poverty – if anything, we’re levelling down.
"What’s happening with Government’s plans to give every child the best start in life? The plans don’t seem to be making it to the North, that’s for sure."
Ms McGuinness said that tackling poverty will also prevent crime.
She added: “We have to fight poverty to fight crime. Put really simply, to keep kids out of trouble we need to give kids the best start in life, the best opportunities.
“The best crime prevention is increased opportunity and reduced poverty. Criminals recruit those left desperate by deprivation – they’re vulnerable, they get drawn in and they can get involved in all sorts – drugs, serious violence.
“Tackling crime is about much more than law enforcement and it starts with improving lives.”
Ms McGuinness' office is supporting the charity with donations of Christmas jumpers and children’s toys in place of secret santa gifts between colleagues this year.
For four years the charity have been providing struggling mums and vulnerable children living in the North East with essential items, either for incredibly low prices or free of charge.
It is the largest baby and school clothing bank in the region with three outlet locations currently in Wallsend, Byker, South Shields and Sunderland.
She said: “Thank goodness for places like Clothe and Feed, especially as there’s some real hardship with Covid and the end of furlough. There are kids in our region who don’t even have a winter coat never mind a tree with presents under it. Families are facing big decisions over heating or eating."
A Government spokesperson said "extensive support" was already being provided to those on the lowest incomes.
The added: “We’re providing extensive support to those on the lowest incomes, including putting £1000 more per year on average into the pockets of the lowest earners, increasing the minimum wage next April to £9.50 per hour and helping with the cost of fuel bills.
“The most vulnerable are also benefitting from our £500m Household Support Fund to help with essential costs this winter, and councils have been given an extra £65m to support low income households with rent arrears.”
