New data reveals a shocking 75% of car thefts in West Midlands remain unsolved, raising concerns about police effectiveness in the area
West Midlands: It’s pretty alarming to hear that a whopping 75% of car thefts in the West Midlands are going unsolved. New data shows that most of these incidents just slip through the cracks.
According to research by the Liberal Democrats, around 24,837 car thefts went unresolved in just three months last year. That’s nearly four out of five thefts that didn’t lead to any charges. Crazy, right?
London’s situation is even worse, with 90% of car thefts going unsolved. Other areas like South Yorkshire and Essex aren’t doing much better, with over 80% of cases unresolved.
In the West Midlands, the numbers are still high, with just over 75% of thefts not leading to any prosecution. The Liberal Democrats are pointing fingers at the previous Tory government for cutting police numbers, which they say has made things worse.
They’re urging Labour to bring back community policing to help tackle this issue. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has promised to add 13,000 officers and community support roles to help fight local crime.
Labour’s plan includes a new performance unit at the Home Office to ensure police standards are consistent across the country. It’s about time something was done!
Lisa Smart from the Lib Dems expressed her frustration, saying that many victims are left without justice. She believes everyone deserves to feel safe and that the cuts to community policing have made things worse.
A spokesperson from the Home Office acknowledged that vehicle theft is a serious issue and said they’re working with police to tackle it. They’re focusing on training officers and encouraging vehicle owners to secure their cars better.
