Three in 4 automobile thefts went unsolved final yr
House of Commons library data reveals that a shocking 76% of all car thefts went unsolved last year, with the worst performing force area being the Metropolitan police
Three in four car thefts went unsolved last year, new figures have revealed.
House of Commons library data reveals that a shocking 76% of all car thefts went unsolved last year, with the worst performing force area being the Metropolitan police, where a total of 88% of all incidents were left unsolved.
The British Transport Police, South Yorkshire, City of London, Sussex and Warwickshire police forces have all reported over 80% of car thefts were unsolved. Out of the 44 police forces in England and Wales, a massive 35 forces had a total rate of 60% of all cases going unsolved.
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The Home Office said vehicle crime fell by 12% in the year to June 2025, with a 7% reduction in vehicle theft, while new laws were being introduced to ban electronic devices used to bypass a car’s security, with criminals facing up to five years in prison for using one.
The Lib Dems have now called for the formation of a specialist team, based at the National Crime Agency, which could pool data from automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras, insurance records and intelligence from police forces and border control to target organised car crime networks.
Lib Dem home affairs spokesman Max Wilkinson MP said: “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.
“Enough is enough. That is why the Liberal Democrats are calling for a car theft crackdown, to finally catch the organised gangs and criminals who for far too long have been getting away with it.”
A Home Office spokesman said: “Vehicle theft has a devastating impact on individuals, families, businesses, and the wider industry.
“For too long, not enough has been done to prevent these crimes or to bring those responsible to justice.
“This Government and the police are taking decisive action to change that – from introducing new laws to ban electronic devices used to steal vehicles, to training police officers on the methods used to steal vehicles and working with industry to address vulnerabilities in vehicles.”
