Police are abandoning an increasing proportion of criminal investigations without identifying a culprit, it can be revealed today.
More than four out of ten victims now see their cases simply being written off.
An analysis of official figures this year showed that police in England and Wales ditched investigations into 45 per cent of reported offences which involved an individual victim, such as an assault or personal theft.
From April to June, 452,517 investigations into such crimes were closed without a suspect being collared, up more than 27,000 on the previous three months. A further 41,578 cases were closed without tracing a perpetrator in crimes which the Home Office categorises as having ‘no specific victims’, such as vandalism or some drug offences.
It meant police jettisoned investigations into almost four crimes a minute, on average.
Baroness Newlove, the Victims’ Commissioner, called on police forces to take ‘urgent action’.
‘Victims do not report crimes lightly,’ she said, ‘yet far too often cases are being abandoned without a suspect being identified, leaving victims feeling ignored and let down.’
Separate data covering the 12 months to the end of June revealed 40.2 per cent of crime reports ended without a suspect being traced. That was up from 39.5 per cent the previous year, and 36.2 per cent the year before that.
Polive officers on patrol. An analysis of official figures this year showed that police in England and Wales ditched investigations into 45 per cent of reported offences which involved an individual victim
Police vehicles in a city. More than four out of ten victims now see their cases simply being written off
Baroness Newlove (pictured), the Victims’ Commissioner, called on police forces to take ‘urgent action’
Separate data covering the 12 months to the end of June revealed 40.2 per cent of crime reports ended without a suspect being traced. That was up from 39.5 per cent the previous year, and 36.2 per cent the year before that.
The year to June saw 2,156,075 incidents in which the police gave up trying to track down perpetrators – more than 5,900 crimes every day on average. The total included more than 325,000 incidents of ‘violence against the person’ and nearly 32,000 sex offences, including 7,189 rapes. More than 1.3 million thefts went unsolved, including 139,222 burglaries.
The charity Victim Support described the figures as ‘very worrying’ which reflected a ‘criminal justice system in crisis’.
Spokesman Alex Mayes added: ‘Anyone who has been the victim of crime deserves to have their case properly investigated and a fair shot at seeing justice.’
Labour is under fire for failing to maintain the same level of investment as the previous Tory Government, which has led to record numbers of police officers, with some forces, including the Met, predicting swingeing cuts in order to balance their books.
A spokesman for the National Police Chiefs’ Council said: ‘In every report, officers will assess what evidence and investigative lines may be available. In some cases there may not be enough information to act upon or bring about criminal proceedings.
‘We recognise we need to do more to increase victim satisfaction and bring more offenders to justice. We are working closely with the Government to identify ways to become a more productive and efficient police service.’