Conservatives “asleep at the wheel” as just 3% of burglaries in Sussex result in a charge

Horsham Liberal Democrats have slammed the Conservatives for being “asleep at the wheel” on tackling community crime after damning new revelations show that almost all burglaries in Sussex go unpunished.

According to Home Office data just 53 or 3%, of domestic burglaries in Sussex resulted in a criminal charge or summons in the first three quarters of 2022. That’s even less than the dismal 4% across the country.

In the same time period, a startling 1,300 burglaries went unsolved, amounting to 65% of all burglaries in Sussex.

Police forces up and down the country have been left overstretched and underfunded. No wonder residents are alarmed.

The Lib Dems are calling for a return to proper community policing - where officers are visible and have the time to focus on preventing and solving crimes - so that criminals can no longer act with impunity.

Commenting on the figures, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson for Horsham, Cllr John Milne, said:

“This news is alarming for people in Horsham and across Sussex. This Conservative Government’s inaction has led to thousands of burglars getting away with it  - and thousands of families waiting endlessly for justice that may never arrive.”

“Police cuts have gone too far. Conservative Ministers must finally recruit the extra 20,000 police officers they have promised but repeatedly failed to deliver.”

<hr/>

Data Source:

• Includes outcomes for domestic burglary offences from 1 January 2022 - 30 September 2022; source: Home Office, Outcomes open data year ending March 2021 and March 2022, https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-recorded-crime-open-data-tables