Detective work

SIR – The rise in violent crime (report, January 26) is a cause for concern, even more so because it is reported that police are no longer responding to “minor” offences such as shoplifting.

As a retired detective chief superintendent, I can say, almost without exception, that those who commit major and violent crimes began their criminal careers committing minor offences.

Arresting and prosecuting offenders for these minor crimes offers the chance to add their fingerprints, photographs and DNA to the national databases. Cold case reviews are regularly successful because a previously unknown offender has been arrested for a minor offence and then identified from the DNA they have left at a major crime scene.

Equally important is the DNA taken from close relatives arrested for minor crimes. James Lloyd, the “shoe rapist”, was arrested following the prosecution of a relative for drink-driving.

Missing the opportunity to take DNA seriously diminishes the opportunity to detect serious crime in the future and can lead to serious miscarriages of justice.

Michael Burdis

Doncaster, South Yorkshire