Police wrongly cancelled 20% of sex offences

Avon and Somerset Police has implemented changes after 20 per cent of serious sexual offences records, excluding rape, were mistakenly cancelled.

Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS), which publishes crime and data integrity reports, found that Avon and Somerset Police mistakenly cancelled 20 per cent of serious sexual offences. This was excluding rape, where no offences were mistakenly cancelled.

The inspections were carried out between 2016 and 2020.

They reviewed a sample of situations where a crime was reported, but officers later judged that no crime had actually taken place.

Officers can correctly cancel a crime if new information comes to light, such as CCTV footage or a victim statement, which indicates it did not take place.

A total of 43 police forces in England and Wales were found to have incorrectly cancelled reports.

Of these, Avon and Somerset Police had the eighth highest percentage, at 20 per cent.

The highest was Hampshire Police, which mistakenly cancelled 53 per cent of sexual offence records, excluding rape.

In their 2020 crime and data integrity revisit, the inspector noted that Avon and Somerset Police had made changes to its crime recording arrangements and implemented all the recommendations from the HMICFRS’ 2017 report.

A spokesperson for the force said: “[The inspector] added that the constabulary has worked to understand its crime-recording standards and is clearly determined to get it right.”

Earlier this month it was announced that Avon and Somerset Police will receive an extra £661,500 to tackle serious violence in the coming year. This is part of a government package of £130.5 million to support the police in 18 areas across England and Wales.