Police failed to solve a single neighbourhood crime in 167 different areas over three years, according to a new investigation. All but one of these areas were in London or the Greater London area, highlighting a stark failure in detection rates for crimes such as theft, robbery, burglary and vehicle theft.
The analysis, conducted by data company Crest Advisory for Channel 4's Dispatches, examined localised crimes between early 2021 and late 2023. It found 167 streets or areas with at least 50 unsolved crimes and a zero percent detection rate. Only one hotspot was outside the Metropolitan Police's jurisdiction.
In the area around Oxford Circus and Regent Street, more than 10,000 thefts from a person were recorded, with 99% unsolved. Many stolen items were mobile phones. One anonymous phone snatcher told the programme: 'I don't give a f*** about what the police are doing... I ain't been nicked for it, yeah? And I ain't going to get nicked.' Another claimed to make £15,000 a month from stealing iPhones.
Victim Imran Kanji, whose phone was stolen, said police closed his case due to lack of leads. Two weeks later, his phone pinged in China. A Met Police spokesperson said officers are targeting resources to hotspot areas with increased patrols and plain clothes officers.
Andy Cooke, His Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary, told Dispatches: 'Too often the police aren't getting the basics right. Seeing so many neighbourhoods that have got zero percent detection rates... it's not acceptable.' The one non-London hotspot has not been named pending police comment.
Crest also analysed 35 of 43 police forces, finding Thurrock, Essex had the most unsolved vehicle crime (93% of 1,017 offences). In Cambridge, a 250-metre area near the station saw over 300 unsolved bike thefts. A Home Office spokesperson pledged to restore neighbourhood policing with 13,000 additional officers.
