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Burglary, robbery and theft victims failed by police - watchdog | Burglary, robbery and theft victims failed by police - watchdog |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Most victims of burglary, robbery and theft in England and Wales are not being given the justice they deserve, the police watchdog says. | Most victims of burglary, robbery and theft in England and Wales are not being given the justice they deserve, the police watchdog says. |
Her majesty's chief inspector of constabulary, Andy Cooke, calls current low charge rates "unacceptable and unsustainable". | Her majesty's chief inspector of constabulary, Andy Cooke, calls current low charge rates "unacceptable and unsustainable". |
Some forces tackle these crimes well - but many do not, his report says. | Some forces tackle these crimes well - but many do not, his report says. |
One car-theft victim told BBC News officers had closed his case within 24 hours, without visiting the scene. | One car-theft victim told BBC News officers had closed his case within 24 hours, without visiting the scene. |
Stefan Borson says his £82,000 Range Rover car was stolen from outside his home, in the early evening on Valentine's Day. | Stefan Borson says his £82,000 Range Rover car was stolen from outside his home, in the early evening on Valentine's Day. |
He notified the police immediately, found pictures of the theft on his own security camera, and waited for officers to be in touch. | He notified the police immediately, found pictures of the theft on his own security camera, and waited for officers to be in touch. |
Stefan Borson (R) told BBC News his six-month-old Range Rover had been stolen from outside his home, in London | Stefan Borson (R) told BBC News his six-month-old Range Rover had been stolen from outside his home, in London |
He was therefore astonished to receive a letter, dated the next day, telling him: "We are sorry to say that with the evidence and leads available, it is unlikely that it would be possible to identify those responsible. | He was therefore astonished to receive a letter, dated the next day, telling him: "We are sorry to say that with the evidence and leads available, it is unlikely that it would be possible to identify those responsible. |
"We have therefore closed this case." | "We have therefore closed this case." |
CCTV footage from Stefan's home shows the Range Rover just before it was stolen | CCTV footage from Stefan's home shows the Range Rover just before it was stolen |
They had not called round, Stefan says, and it would be unlikely they had visited the crime scene without knocking on the door. | They had not called round, Stefan says, and it would be unlikely they had visited the crime scene without knocking on the door. |
They did not check his or his neighbours' cameras or the vehicle's tracking record as it was driven away. | They did not check his or his neighbours' cameras or the vehicle's tracking record as it was driven away. |
"I'm not sure on what basis they could have said they've investigated all potential leads," he adds. | "I'm not sure on what basis they could have said they've investigated all potential leads," he adds. |
Woman tracks down her own stolen car before police | Woman tracks down her own stolen car before police |
Liquid-with-code could help reduce home burglaries | Liquid-with-code could help reduce home burglaries |
The crimes least likely to be solved | The crimes least likely to be solved |
The report, based on findings from force inspections by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) in 2021-22, highlights while some tackle these crimes effectively, others: | The report, based on findings from force inspections by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) in 2021-22, highlights while some tackle these crimes effectively, others: |
miss opportunities to identify and catch offenders, at all stages from when a crime is first reported | miss opportunities to identify and catch offenders, at all stages from when a crime is first reported |
fail to give victims advice on crime-scene preservation during the initial call - in 71% of the cases examined | fail to give victims advice on crime-scene preservation during the initial call - in 71% of the cases examined |
lack investigative capacity and experience, made worse by a national detective shortage | lack investigative capacity and experience, made worse by a national detective shortage |
fail to supervise investigations properly - in a third of cases | fail to supervise investigations properly - in a third of cases |
The report comes soon after the most recent Home Office figures showed just 6.3% of robbery offences and 4.1% of thefts in England and Wales resulted in charges, in the year to March. | The report comes soon after the most recent Home Office figures showed just 6.3% of robbery offences and 4.1% of thefts in England and Wales resulted in charges, in the year to March. |
Too often forces' digital, forensic, technological and analytical capability is not good enough to let them carry out thorough investigations, the report says. | Too often forces' digital, forensic, technological and analytical capability is not good enough to let them carry out thorough investigations, the report says. |
They must improve their approach to serious acquisitive crime - offences such as personal robbery, theft from a person, theft of and from a motor vehicles and domestic burglary. | They must improve their approach to serious acquisitive crime - offences such as personal robbery, theft from a person, theft of and from a motor vehicles and domestic burglary. |
And by March 2023, all police forces must ensure: | And by March 2023, all police forces must ensure: |
burglary, theft and robbery crime scenes are managed according to national standards | burglary, theft and robbery crime scenes are managed according to national standards |
investigations are effectively supervised and directed | investigations are effectively supervised and directed |
"Burglary, robbery and theft are not minor crimes," Mr Cooke says. | "Burglary, robbery and theft are not minor crimes," Mr Cooke says. |
"There needs to be a concerted drive to address this issue because it directly affects the public's confidence in the police's ability to keep them safe." | "There needs to be a concerted drive to address this issue because it directly affects the public's confidence in the police's ability to keep them safe." |
A lack of experienced officers too often means these crimes are investigated poorly and inadequately supervised, "often because supervisors themselves are inexperienced and overstretched", he says. | A lack of experienced officers too often means these crimes are investigated poorly and inadequately supervised, "often because supervisors themselves are inexperienced and overstretched", he says. |
And many detectives feel "disengaged and devalued and frustrated that they can't give the quality of service that the victims deserve". | And many detectives feel "disengaged and devalued and frustrated that they can't give the quality of service that the victims deserve". |
One woman told BBC News in May she was threatened with a crowbar after feeling forced to track down her own car after it was stolen | One woman told BBC News in May she was threatened with a crowbar after feeling forced to track down her own car after it was stolen |
National Police Chiefs' Council acquisitive crime lead Deputy Chief Constable Amanda Blakeman said they would look at the findings in detail "and work to assist forces in implementing improvements". | National Police Chiefs' Council acquisitive crime lead Deputy Chief Constable Amanda Blakeman said they would look at the findings in detail "and work to assist forces in implementing improvements". |
"We absolutely recognise how invasive and traumatic it is to be a victim of these serious offences," she added. | "We absolutely recognise how invasive and traumatic it is to be a victim of these serious offences," she added. |
College of Policing chief executive Chief Constable Andy Marsh said the report was "absolutely right to recommend the full adoption of existing national standards". | College of Policing chief executive Chief Constable Andy Marsh said the report was "absolutely right to recommend the full adoption of existing national standards". |
"Only by taking a consistent approach will we fully protect the public and not let burglars off the hook," he added. | "Only by taking a consistent approach will we fully protect the public and not let burglars off the hook," he added. |
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