Police fail to solve three out of four domestic burglaries in England and Wales

In the three months prior to June 2024, significant data revealed alarming statistics regarding unsolved domestic burglaries across England and Wales. A total of 31,980 burglary cases went unresolved, which represents three in every four reported burglaries. This issue disproportionately affected wealthier suburban areas, with regions like Warwickshire, Surrey, and Wiltshire reporting that over 80% of their burglary cases remained unsolved. The worst instances were documented in Hertfordshire, where 561 out of 669 investigations went unsolved, equating to 84%. In the City of London, every investigation during the same quarter yielded no suspects at all, showcasing the severity of the crisis. The Liberal Democrats released this concerning information, labeling it a 'national scandal' and attributing the inefficacy to a reduction in the number of Police Community Support Officers by the previous Conservative government, totaling 4,500 since 2015. Lisa Smart, MP and the party's Home Office spokeswoman, emphasized the lack of justice for thousands of victims as the police fail to adequately address the crisis. She urged the current government to avoid repeating past mistakes that have stricken police efficiency and effectiveness. The Home Office responded to these troubling statistics by acknowledging the deficiencies in responding to burglary reports. The government plans to restore patrols in urban areas, recruit a significant number of new police officers, and ensure every community benefits from having a named local officer for residents to turn to in times of need. They also expressed a commitment for police to respond to every home burglary reported while diligently pursuing all viable lines of investigation to apprehend offenders. The focus will be on enhancing immediate responses to burglary cases to collect essential evidence and support victims adequately. National Police Chiefs Council representatives highlighted the deeply invasive nature of burglary, recognizing the profound impact such crimes have on the victims. They indicated that while every call is assessed based on threat, harm, and risk, the inefficacies in responding to burglary cases should be improved to ensure that victims receive proper support and that every reasonable effort is made to apprehend perpetrators. The overall circumstances reflect a systemic issue within policing, pointing to past decisions that have now led to significant resource limitations, which ultimately hinder effective crime resolution.