Conservatives “asleep at the wheel” as just 4% of burglaries in Staffordshire result in a charge

Analysis of official Home Office data by the Liberal Democrats revealed that just 89, or 4%, of domestic burglaries in Staffordshire resulted in a criminal charge or summons in the first three quarters of 2022. Across England, it was the same dismal 4%.

In the same time period, a startling 1346 burglaries went unsolved, amounting to 64% of all burglaries in Staffordshire.

Liberal Democrats have slammed the Government for these stark figures, saying the Conservatives have left police forces up and down the country overstretched and underfunded.

The party is 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, Helen Miller-Viney, Lib Dem candidate in the upcoming By-Election, said:

"This news is terrifying for people in Staffordshire. 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.

Everyone deserves to feel safe in their homes. The Government must make that possible by giving police forces the officers, time and resources they need to tackle domestic burglaries.

To do this, Conservative Ministers must finally recruit the extra 20,000 police officers they have promised but failed to deliver.

If elected next week to Staffordshire County Council I shall make it a priority to try to improve this situation"