Fury at ‘postcode lottery’ of success in solving cases
CRIME victims in Hyndburn are facing a ‘postcode lottery’ when it comes to police success in solving cases, the Observer can reveal.
Police figures show a big disparity in success rates depending upon where you live in the borough - with less than ONE crime a month being resolved by either the courts or officers in one area.
Councillors have slammed the ‘absolutely ridiculous’ figures and blamed cuts to local neighbourhood policing.
Police bosses said they are ‘ committed to preventing and responding to all crimes’.
In the 12 months between April 2017 and March 2018, only 11 out of 228 crimes in Huncoat were solved, a clear up rate of 4.8 per cent, while 83 per cent of offences faced no further action.
Across Hyndburn as a whole, a total of 5,478 crimes over the last 12 months faced ‘no further action’, 70 per cent of the 7,826 recorded offences.
In Accrington town centre the figure dropped to 60 per cent no further action.
Huncoat councillor Dave Parkins has demanded more police resources for the area.
He said: “People in Huncoat pay the same rates as everybody else and obviously they are not getting the service they deserve.
“We haven’t got a PC any more and all we have is one PCSO.
“I think they are ridiculous figures and it’s about time people woke up and said enough is enough.
“I shall be lobbying the MP for more resources.”
Fellow Huncoat councillor Eamonn Higgins said he was ‘surprised and disappointed’.
He said: “Unfortunately we have lost our dedicated community beat manager Paula Birch and we also lost our PCSO as well.
“We currently only have one PCSO that only works two days a week.
“I think these figures reflect the cuts to the police service in certain areas across the borough.
“I will meet with the local police inspector to see if there’s anything we can do to reverse this trend and possibly put more resources into Huncoat.”
Roy Chetham, chairman of the Huncoat Community Forum, said they are ‘very alarmed by the situation’.
He said: “I’m not surprised because there is no policing in Huncoat.
“They don’t really patrol anymore.”