Soft touch Britain: Police fail to solve single burglary in HALF of areas
Police have failed to solve a single burglary in nearly half of areas in England and Wales over the past three years
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Police have failed to solve a single burglary in nearly half of areas in England and Wales over the past three years.
The new data has sparked fears that such offences have in effect been decriminalised in some parts of the country.
According to the police statistics, across 30,100 areas, 48.2 per cent had no reported burglaries solved in the three years to this March.
More than 80 burglaries remained unsolved in each of the three worst areas - in parts of Hampshire, South Yorkshire and southeast London.
According to the police statistics, across 30,100 areas, 48.2 per cent had no reported burglaries solved in the three years to this March
PA
An area is defined as containing about 1,500 people or 650 households.
The response to burglary, robbery and theft was “not consistently good enough – and victims face a postcode lottery when it comes to how thoroughly officers might investigate crimes”, the police inspectorate said last year.
Despite 43 chief constables in England and Wales signing a commitment last October that police would visit the scene of every burglary, most forces exclude outbuildings, sheds and garages.
Last August Andy Cooke, His Majesty’s chief inspector of constabulary, said that failing to target burglary, robbery, and theft “damages public confidence in policing”.
In April it was revealed that more than 200,000 burglaries went unresolved last year, the equivalent of 574 every day.
And according to government figures, eight in ten burglary cases reported to the Metropolitan Police, Hertfordshire, Surrey and South Yorkshire police forces went unresolved.
Statistics from the Home Office showed that 209,424 burglary cases were closed by police last year - a 10 per cent rise compared to the previous year.
Analysis by the Liberal Democrats found that just six per cent resulted in a suspect being charged and 77 per cent of all burglary cases went unresolved.
Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey MP said: “As thousands of burglars get off scot-free, our communities are being failed and victims are being let down. The buck stops with Conservative Ministers.
“It’s just further proof that neighbourhood policing has been decimated under this Conservative Government - and it’s people across the country who are paying the price.
In April it was revealed that more than 200,000 burglaries went unresolved last year, the equivalent of 574 every day
PA
"No amount of warm words from the Home Secretary will help these forgotten victims.
“Liberal Democrats are calling for a Burglary Response Guarantee now, to finally bring an end to the burglar bailouts.”
Across Britain, Hampshire police recorded the worst outcome with 84 per cent of cases last year not being solved.
The Home Office said the latest crime survey for England and Wales had shown a 34 per cent drop in burglaries since December 2019.
It claimed that Home Secretary, Suella Braverman had made clear she would hold police forces to their promise of attending every case.