We can’t waste money on solving burglaries, reveals police force
A POLICE force has scrapped its burglary investigation unit after funding cuts to focus on crimes such as modern slavery and human trafficking.
Avon and Somerset Constabulary has solved just 10 per cent of break-ins over five years, recovering only one per cent of stolen valuables – £709,277 worth of belongings out of nearly £40 million taken by criminals, although it claimed that the value of stolen item was much less in 2016 than in 2011,
Between 2011 and last year, the force recorded 70,522 burglaries, but solved just 7,263 – and 80 per cent of suspects were never even identified.
Last month, the force revealed it had been hit with £65million of cuts since 2010 and has 655 fewer police officers.
It said it has “other priorities”, including child sexual exploitation and other serious sexual offences.
A police spokesman said: “Burglary is a priority for everyone in Avon and Somerset from the call taker, to the responding police officer and the forensic investigator.
“The figures show that from 2011 to 2016 there has been a 14 per cent reduction in burglary, which is around 2,000 less victims over that time period,” the spokesman added.
“In addition, there has been a 73 per cent reduction in the value of stolen property in 2016, compared with 2011, which is £7million less.
“However, we do have other priorities including child sexual exploitation and other serious sexual offences, modern slavery, human trafficking as well as high-risk missing people,” the spokesman said. “It is our role to get the right resource with the right skills to all requests for our services which require a response.
“As a result, we no longer have dedicated burglary squads as we have changed the structure of our organisation to meet reductions in funding.
“There has also been a reduction in workforce in terms of police officers and police staff, as highlighted in The Tipping Point report recently published by our force.”
The figures were revealed by a Freedom of Information request.
Sue Mountstevens. the Police and Crime Commissioner, announced last month the constabulary has to find £17million by 2021-22 to balance their budget. Since the Government’s first comprehensive spending review in 2010, policing in Avon and Somerset has been hit with savings of £65 million and 655 fewer police officers.