76.57% of burglaries unsolved in Essex 

76.57% of burglaries unsolved in Essex 

2,772 burglaries in Essex were unsolved in the first three quarters of 2023, shocking figures show.

Of the 3,620 burglaries reported in that time period, only 133 resulted in a charge or summons. And 2,772 investigations were closed without even identifying a suspect - meaning 76.57% 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. Essex 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 Campaigner, John Loxley 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 Essex 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.