Burglary, theft and assault victims receive ‘limited service, if any service at all’ from police says senior watchdog Sir Tom Winsor
- Top policing inspector warns crimes victims were receiving ‘limited service’
- Sir Tom Winsor said victims had ‘little more than a phone call’ with an officer
- Proportion of offences solved fell from 14 per cent in 2015 to 7.3 per cent in 2019
Crime victims are receiving a ‘limited service, if any service at all’ when reporting assaults, burglaries and thefts, the top policing official has warned.
Sir Tom Winsor, Her Majesty’s chief inspector of police said the extent of some criminal investigations would be a phone call to the victim, but only to take down facts without any following action.
In a section of his annual policing review titled ‘Levels of service don’t always meet public expectations’, the watchdog says: ‘The police are struggling to adapt to the challenges associated with the scale and complexity of modern criminality.
Sir Tom Winsor, Her Majesty’s chief inspector of police said the extent of some criminal investigations would be a phone call to the victim, but only to take down facts without any following action
‘For the public, this often means lengthy delays in investigations, and therefore delays in justice.’
The amount of cases solved across the UK’s 43 police forces fell from 14 per cent in 2015 to 7.3 per cent in 2019.
In cases of of fraud, performance across English and Welsh forces is ‘particularly poor’, with many of the estimated 3.7 million cases each year left unrecorded or investigated.
There is also worrying data to show a lack of faith in police by the public, as the proportion of crimes closed because the victim did not support a prosecution has risen from 8.7 per cent to 22.6 per cent in the same period.
The amount of cases solved across the UK’s 43 police forces fell from 14 per cent in 2015 to 7.3 per cent in 2019 (stock photo)
‘The likelihood of the police bringing someone to justice following a criminal investigation is falling. The proportion of crimes closed because the victim doesn’t support a prosecution is rising,’ wrote Sir Tom.
Even in one of the best forces, Durham, 13 per cent of burglaries and 14 per cent of vehicle crimes in 2018/19 were solved, compared to 23 per cent of violent crimes.
‘There is limited understanding as to why so many victims seem to be losing faith in the criminal justice system.’
He added: ‘In the words of one chief constable: “Victims of less serious crimes receive a limited service, if any service at all.” Some of our inspections bear out this downbeat observation.’
The comments come as Home Office urges police chiefs to prosecute shoplifters who steal less than £200 of goods, in a bid to tackle violence against shopkeepers.
It comes as crime and policing minister Kit Malthouse will write to police and crime commissioners and chief constables urging them to prosecute shoplifters who steal less than £200 of goods, in a bid to tackle violence against shopkeepers
Information provided by nearly 3,500 retailers, trade associations and unions which suggested abuse towards shop staff had increased, with a ‘significant number’ saying they did not report incidents to the police.
The crime and policing minister Kit Malthouse will write to police and crime commissioners and chief constables ‘underscoring the importance of working closely with local businesses to tackle this issue and emphasising that the theft of goods valued up to £200 from a shop should be prosecuted as a criminal offence,’ the Home Office said.
The department has also pledged to work with the National Retail Crime Steering Group (NRCSG) on ways to support staff in reporting crimes.
Mr Malthouse said: ‘Shopworkers are the beating hearts of our communities and violence or abuse against them is utterly unacceptable.
‘We are determined to drive down these crimes and crucially, ensure that shopworkers are fully supported in reporting incidents to the police.’