Motorists 'deserve so much better' as Lib Dems demand crackdown on unsolved car thefts - 'Disgrace!'

The data from the House of Commons library showed that the Metropolitan Police was the worst-performing, solving just 12 per cent of all incidents.

Similarly, British Transport Police, South Yorkshire, City of London, Sussex and Warwickshire police forces all reported a car theft solve rate of less than 20 per cent.

The Liberal Democrats have now called for a "car theft crackdown" as motorists continue to face difficulties when trying to get their vehicles back after they have been taken.

The Sir Ed Davey-led political party has put forward proposals that aim to improve the solve rates for car thefts.

This includes a specialist team, based at the National Crime Agency, using data from Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras, insurance records and intelligence from police forces.

Lib Dems said these methods should be used to target organised car crime networks, which have come under the microscope in recent years.

In November, Essex Police reported that three men had been sentenced to a combined total of 11 and a half years in prison relating to a £1.5million vehicle theft conspiracy.

As part of Operation Falcon, detectives and the Castle Point and Rochford Neighbourhood Policing Teams uncovered the organised criminal group following a spate of thefts between January and June 2024.

At least 50 high-value cars were stolen by the gang, including BMWs from Wickford and Leigh-on-Sea, a Range Rover from Billericay and several Mercedes models from Hockley.

Detective Superintendent Shaun Kane, from Essex Police, said the outcome should send a "clear message" that vehicle crime would not be tolerated.

Commenting on the calls for a crackdown on vehicle thefts and car crimes, Max Wilkinson, home affairs spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats, said: "Enough is enough.

"Time and time again, victims of crime are left without the support they need. It's a disgrace and communities deserve so much better.

"The previous Conservative Government betrayed our communities with years of self-defeating cuts to our police forces - and now the current Labour Government must not turn a blind eye to this epidemic."

The MP for Cheltenham, who was elected in 2024, said it was "finally" time for a crackdown on vehicle thefts.

Mr Wilkinson emphasised that organised gangs and criminals should be targeted, since they have been getting away with their crimes for "far too long".

The Home Office data found that the Dyfed-Powys police force in Wales had the best solve rate, with just 38 per cent of vehicle thefts going unsolved.

Other well-performing police forces included Cumbria (40 per cent unsolved), Norfolk (42 per cent), Devon and Cornwall (42 per cent), and Derbyshire (47 per cent).