Sending police to every burglary ‘is not possible’
SENDING police officers to every single burglary in the West Midlands will not be possible with the force’s current level of resources, the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) has claimed.
Every force in the country has pledged to try to do so – but questioned whether it is achievable.
Almost 40% of break-ins in the West Midlands went unattended in 2021, figures obtained by the Birmingham Post revealed earlier this year.
Burglary attendances have fallen over recent years as police have been forced to prioritise more serious crime, while increased use of technology means low-level offences can be reported online without the need for officers to show up in person.
Critics argue there is a risk of reputational damage to the police if they do not attend burglaries – that it can make them appear uncaring and uninterested in lowlevel crime which, nevertheless, can have a big impact on victims.
All 43 UK forces made a commitment at a meeting of the National Police Chiefs’ Council to send an officer to investigate every report of a domestic burglary, regardless of location and what has been stolen.
It would mean West Midlands Police having to visit dozens of victims a day, as there were 11,151 burglaries last year – one every 46 minutes. The force has around 7,400 officers, meaning every one would have to attend at least one burglary on average.
But West Midlands PCC Simon Foster says the target will be almost impossible to achieve without
We lost 2,221 officers. That was 25% of our officers. That was a big mistake. West Midlands PCC Simon Foster
significant investment in policing from the Government.
He said: “The Government is failing to get the basics right.
“Over the past decade, it has imposed reckless financial cuts on West Midlands Police. We lost 2,221 officers. That was 25% of our officers. That was a big mistake.
“It had a serious adverse impact on police presence, response times, the conduct of investigations and the ability to prevent and tackle crime, including burglary, to the detriment of the people of the West Midlands.
“Despite the socalled police uplift, by 2023 West Midlands Police will still have 1,000 fewer officers than it did in 2010.
“This must be addressed if we are to ensure the force has the ability and resources to deliver on this commitment.
“I remain committed to investing in community policing, initiatives to prevent burglary, holding offenders to account and support for victims in our communities.”