New figures reveal that nearly 90% of burglaries in England and Wales remain unsolved, with police forces solving just 12.2% of cases on average. The data, published by Churchill Home Insurance, shows wide regional disparities: Dyfed-Powys Police solved 28.7% of burglaries, while forces in Wiltshire, Surrey, South Yorkshire and Sussex managed only 8.3% to 9%.
The best-performing force, Dyfed-Powys, also recorded the lowest burglary rate at 2.5 per 1,000 residents, compared to a national average of 7.2 per 1,000. Humberside and West Yorkshire had the highest rates, with 10.8 per 1,000.
Criticism has mounted over police tactics and resource allocation. Leicestershire Police faced controversy for a pilot scheme that refused to attend attempted burglaries at odd-numbered houses. Coventry Police sparked backlash by entering unlocked homes and tweeting photos to highlight security lapses.
National Police Chiefs' Council chair Sara Thornton drew ire by suggesting victims should no longer expect officers to attend burglaries due to budget cuts. Victim Support's Lucy Hastings said burglary 'can leave many people feeling vulnerable, frightened and distressed.'
Despite low clear-up rates, the NPCC noted that burglary rates are at their lowest in 30 years, and emphasised that forensic evidence and on-scene arrests offer the best chance of solving cases. The number of officers per capita does not correlate with success, as Dyfed-Powys has fewer officers per 1,000 than the Metropolitan Police.
