Police force ignores 16,000 violent crimes

ONE of Britain’s biggest police forces has failed to record thousands of violent crimes, including reports of rape and serious assaults.

More than 16,600 calls are ignored every year by West Midlands Police because of mistakes or a lack of training for officers, meaning victims are denied justice.

Some police and staff dismiss reports of crime received from vulnerable victims.

The police watchdog said the force routinely under-records rape, sexual offences and violent attacks. Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary raised concerns after rating the force’s crime recording as ‘inadequate’ in 2017.

Its latest report said: ‘ Too often the force is failing victims. By our estimate the force is failing to record over 16,600 violent crimes reported each year. We found examples of officers letting down victims by simply not believing them.’

Inspectors were unable to examine other types of crime because the force was updating its computer systems.

Deputy Chief Constable Louisa Rolfe said: ‘It is frustrating that, despite substantial progress, our grading has remained as inadequate.

‘This report focuses upon reports of violent crime and sexual offences. It does not include the results of other crimes and, consequently, it has not recognised the force’s overall crime recording from which we have good, reliable crime accuracy.’