A woman from Blackburn whose home was burgled while she slept has accused Lancashire Police of failing to act on CCTV evidence she provided. Sarah Goode identified a former friend as the offender from footage she gathered herself, but officers did not question him or collect further CCTV from neighbours.
Speaking to BBC Panorama, Ms Goode said she sent the suspect angry messages and eventually recovered her stolen car keys, which had been thrown into her back yard. However, other possessions remain missing. 'I actually wanted the police to do something about it. And they did nothing. It's not OK,' she said.
Lancashire Police stated that it recognises the impact of crime on victims and that tackling burglary is a priority. The force said it deployed crime scene investigators, conducted house-to-house enquiries, and obtained CCTV before Ms Goode's case was closed. Panorama later obtained footage from three neighbours that police had failed to collect, showing the offender entering and exiting the property at 04:00.
The case highlights broader issues within policing in England and Wales. Research commissioned by Panorama from the think tank Crest Advisory argues that forces need an additional 18,000 officers simply to keep pace with population growth since 2010. The number of officers per 1,000 people has fallen from 4.42 to 3.88.
HM Inspector of Constabulary Andy Cooke warned that inexperience among officers is significant, with 30% expected to have fewer than five years' service by next year. Only one in 20 recorded crimes results in a charge, while crime severity has risen by over 50% since 2010. Crest calculates that 114,000 additional officers are needed to meet current demand.
