SHOCK: 60% of burglaries unsolved in North Yorkshire

620 burglaries in North Yorkshire were unsolved in the first three quarters of 2022, shocking figures show.

Of the 1034 burglaries reported in that time period, only 12 resulted in a charge or summons – a shocking 1%. And 620 investigations were closed without even identifying a suspect - meaning 60% of burglaries went unsolved.

The Liberal Democrats have also uncovered shocking figures on police attendance of burglaries. Nationally, almost four in ten burglaries in the country did not result in a visit to the scene by a police officer. The figures were based on data provided by 19 police forces in England. North Yorkshire police force did not provide the data. 

The Liberal Democrats are calling for a new “Burglary Response Guarantee,” which would create a guarantee that all domestic burglaries are attended by the police and properly investigated. 

This will require a return to proper community policing - where officers are visible, trusted, and have the time and resources needed to focus on solving crime.

Since 2015, the Conservatives have taken over 4,000 Police Community Support Officers off the streets, while they look set to have broken their key promise of having recruited an extra 20,000 police officers by the end of March 2023. 

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Harrogate & Knaresborough, Tom Gordon said:

“It is shocking that so many burglaries in our community are going unsolved by the police. No family should be denied justice after suffering the distress and trauma of being burgled.  

“Many families across the Harrogate and Knaresborough area now feel unsafe in their own homes, because this Conservative government has left our police forces overstretched and under-resourced. It means far too many victims are being denied justice and far too many criminals are getting away with it.

“When knocking on doors of local residents this week the issue of crime and the fear of crime has come up again and again. North Yorkshire had one of the lowest rates charges or summons for burglary – a shocking 1%.

“The Liberal Democrats would ensure that if people are burgled, they know the police will attend the scene and investigate properly. More and more people across North Yorkshire are turning to the Liberal Democrats, because they know we work hard for our communities, we hear your concerns, and we never take you for granted.”