Over 100,000 burglary cases from last year dropped by police
EMBARGO: 22:30 Friday 7 April 2023
The Liberal Democrats have accused the Conservatives of having “lost control” on crime, after uncovering new figures showing over 100,000 burglaries went unsolved last year.
The party is calling on Home Secretary Suella Braverman to bring in urgent legislation to protect burglary victims and ensure every case is properly investigated.
The data, revealed through Freedom of Information requests, shows that seven in ten burglaries reported in 2022 have already been closed without a suspect being identified. Those which still have investigations ongoing could still be dropped at a later date without the police finding a suspect.
The figures were provided by 26 of 39 police forces in England. Cumbria Police has the worst record with 93% of burglary cases from last year already being dropped. This was followed by Merseyside (84%), South Yorkshire (84%) and Warwickshire (83%).
The Metropolitan Police closed almost 26,800 burglary cases without identifying a suspect, a higher number than any other force.
The Liberal Democrats are calling for a new statutory guarantee, backed through legislation, to ensure all domestic burglaries are attended by the police and properly investigated. The party is also calling for a return to proper community policing, where officers have the time and resources they need to focus on preventing and solving crime.
Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Alistair Carmichael said:
“Burglary is an awful crime that leaves people feeling violated and unsafe in their own homes, as well as out of pocket. These staggering figures confirm what victims tell us all the time. Burglars are getting away with it while victims are denied justice.
“The Conservative Party has lost control of crime because the Home Secretary is only interested in PR stunts and headlines instead of doing the hard graft, tackling the criminal gangs sowing fear in local communities.
“If Suella Braverman was serious, she’d back our calls for a new burglary victims’ guarantee to ensure every break-in is attended by a police officer and properly investigated. It tells you a lot about how bad things have got that a guarantee of this sort is not just necessary but urgent.
"The Conservatives’ disastrous cuts to community policing mean people rarely see officers on their streets any more. That has got to change.”
ENDS
Notes to Editor:
Full data available here
