Lock your doors: Shocking figures reveal detectives solve just 10 per cent of all burglaries - and only half of those result in a suspect being charged 

  • There were 2.1million burglaries committed over the past six years 
  • But only 5 per cent of those cases resulted in a suspect being charged 
  • Bedfordshire Police had the worst record on burglary in the last six years 

By REBECCA CAMBER, CRIME AND SECURITY EDITOR

Published: | Updated:

Police fail to solve nine out of ten burglaries, figures show.

And only 5 per cent of the 2.1million burglaries committed over the past six years have resulted in a suspect being charged.

Official figures have revealed that of the £2billion in goods and valuables stolen in domestic and commercial raids between 2011 and 2016, only 7 per cent – £137million worth – was recovered.

Suspects have been charged in just 5 per cent of the 2.1million burglaries committed over the past six years

Suspects have been charged in just 5 per cent of the 2.1million burglaries committed over the past six years

Fewer than 10 per cent of the 2,125,861 burglaries committed over the six years were solved, with only 206,009 culprits identified.

But the statistics, for 29 of the 45 forces in the UK, show that barely half that number – 112,773 burglars – were charged. The decline in detection rates follows the axing of 17,000 front-line officers in six years. The figures, revealed through freedom of information requests by The Sun, show that Bedfordshire Police had the worst record on burglary, solving only 6 per cent of cases over six years.

Even the best performing forces – West Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire and Greater Manchester – only solved 10 per cent of burglaries.

Labour MP Yvette Cooper, chairman of the Commons home affairs committee, said: ‘[Police] have to be able to do the basics – keeping the streets safe and catching criminals who invade people’s homes.’

Deputy Chief Constable Matt Jukes, speaking for the National Police Chiefs’ Council, said: ‘Burglary has fallen by a third since 2010 and is at its lowest level for 30 years.’

 

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