Conservatives “asleep at the wheel” as just 3% of burglaries in Derbyshire result in a charge

Conservatives "asleep at the wheel" as just 3% of burglaries in Derbyshire result in a charge

Derby's Liberal Democrats have slammed the Conservatives for being "asleep at the wheel" on tackling community crime after damning new revelations show that almost all burglaries in Derbyshire go unpunished.

Analysis of official Home Office data by the Liberal Democrats revealed that just 58, or 3%, of domestic burglaries in Derbyshire resulted in a criminal charge or summons in the first three quarters of 2022. Across the country, the figure was a dismal 4%.

In the same time period, a startling 1271 burglaries went unsolved, amounting to 71% of all burglaries in Derbyshire.

Derby's 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, Ajit Atwal said:

"This news is terrifying for people in Derbyshire. 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."