Police were urged to refocus on their “core mission” after new figures showed record levels of shoplifting, alongside rising knife crime and robberies, despite the addition of 20,000 new officers.
Chief constables are now facing scrutiny over their priorities as official data revealed that nearly 6,000 crimes went unsolved every day last year, with 40% of recorded crimes resulting in no punishment. This comes a year after police forces promised to investigate every crime and visit all burgled homes following a national effort that added 20,000 officers.
However, despite these commitments, the latest statistics suggest that thousands of victims are still being denied justice daily.
Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveals that shoplifting in England and Wales is now at its highest level in 20 years, with 469,788 offences recorded in the year up to June 2024—a 29% rise from the previous year’s 365,173 offences. This equates to 54 shoplifting incidents per hour.
Additionally, thefts from individuals have risen by 20% to 139,368 cases, marking the highest level since April 2002. Robberies also increased by 6%, reaching 81,931, with knife-related robberies rising by 11%. Overall knife crime grew by 4%, with 50,973 incidents reported—an average of 140 per day.
David Spencer, Head of Crime and Justice at Policy Exchange, commented, “Today’s crime figures highlight how the police are often diverted from their core role of fighting crime. The government, police, and justice system must focus on ensuring that prolific offenders are imprisoned to keep our streets safe.”
Paddy Lillis, General Secretary of the retail union Usdaw, warned of a crime “epidemic” in retail, with organised gangs increasingly targeting stores and using violence to evade capture.
Further Home Office data released yesterday shows a rise in cases dropped due to “no suspect being identified,” increasing from 39.3% to 40.2%. Despite police pledges to attend every residential burglary, the number of burglary charges fell from 9,806 in March 2023 to 9,741 this year.
Robert Jenrick, a Conservative leadership contender and former Home Office minister, expressed disappointment: “The last Conservative government added 20,000 officers and mandated attendance at all domestic burglaries, yet it’s disheartening to see the charge rate for burglaries falling for such a damaging crime. This raises serious questions about how police time is being spent.”
While the overall charge rate for all crime types increased slightly from 5.7% to 6.4%, most criminals still escape justice. In total, 2,156,075 crimes across England and Wales went unsolved in the year to June 2024, amounting to 5,907 unresolved cases daily.
Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Lisa Smart MP criticized the government, stating: “This is the Conservative legacy of failure on crime. Every day, thousands of victims are denied justice due to years of Conservative mismanagement. Our communities deserve to feel safe and confident that crimes will be properly investigated.”
Policing Minister Dame Diana Johnson blamed the previous government, saying, “Today’s statistics reveal the scale of the challenge we’ve inherited in making our streets safer. Record shoplifting levels, and rising knife crime, theft, and robbery have decimated communities. This cannot continue.”
She promised that the current government would restore neighborhood policing, deploy thousands more officers, and abolish the £200 shoplifting threshold, ending the near-impunity for thieves stealing low-value goods.
Dame Diana Johnson further emphasized the government’s commitment to tackling crime, stating, “We are determined to rebuild trust in the justice system and ensure that offenders are held accountable for their actions. No crime should be overlooked, and no community should feel abandoned by those tasked with their protection.”
She outlined plans to increase visible policing, particularly in areas hit hardest by rising crime, and to implement tougher penalties for repeat offenders. Johnson also highlighted the importance of addressing the root causes of crime, including poverty and addiction, by investing in social services, youth programs, and rehabilitation efforts.
Meanwhile, crime prevention advocates and victim support groups have voiced growing concern over the impact of unsolved crimes on public confidence. Many argue that the failure to solve a large percentage of cases not only denies victims justice but also undermines the deterrent effect of law enforcement. The high rate of unresolved cases, combined with rising crime figures, has led to calls for a national review of police effectiveness and resource allocation.
Some experts suggest that police forces are being stretched too thin by additional responsibilities, including mental health crises and social issues, which distract them from core policing duties like investigating thefts and violent crimes. They argue that more specialized support services are needed to handle non-criminal emergencies, allowing police to focus on law enforcement.
In response, police chiefs have defended their officers, pointing to increased workloads and the complexity of modern policing. They stress that many crimes, particularly those involving organized crime networks, require more resources and longer investigations. However, critics say that even with the added 20,000 officers, policing strategies must evolve to meet the rising demands effectively.
As the debate continues, the pressure mounts on both local and national authorities to deliver results. The public is looking for swift action to reverse the current trends, with many calling for more transparency and accountability within the criminal justice system.
With rising concerns over public safety, the focus remains on whether the new strategies and additional officers will be enough to curb the crime wave and restore confidence in the ability of law enforcement to protect communities. The coming months are expected to be critical as the government rolls out its new initiatives and the police work to demonstrate that the recent recruitment drive can make a tangible difference in reducing crime.
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