77% of all burglaries in Dorset go unsolved

A staggering 77% of burglaries went unsolved in Dorset in the 2022/2023 financial year - an average of 6 per day, new analysis has revealed.

The figures, from official Home Office statistics, show that in 2022/2023, a total of 2189 burglaries in Dorset were closed without a suspect being identified, accounting for 77% of all cases. Meanwhile, just 4% of Dorset burglaries resulted in a suspect being charged or summonsed.

The figures in our area match the national picture, with 77% going unsolved but across England and Wales the charge rate is slightly higher at 6%.

Whilst the Police and Crime Commissioner has welcomed an increase in police numbers, since 2015, the Conservatives have taken over 4,000 Police Community Support Officers off the streets across the country.  And as of last year, just 12% of officers across England and Wales were assigned to frontline neighbourhood policing teams.

The Liberal Democrats are calling for a return to proper community policing, where officers are trusted and visible in their neighbourhoods, with the time and resources to focus on tackling local crimes like burglaries. The party is also calling for a new “Burglary Response Guarantee” under which all domestic burglaries would be attended by the police and properly investigated. 

Commenting, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Mid Dorset and North Poole, Vikki Slade, said: 

“Everyone deserves to feel safe and secure in their own homes. But under this terrible Government, so many burglars are getting off scot-free. These figures will bring little comfort to families and pensioners in Dorset. We are not expecting a return to a bobby on the beat but the balance between dealing with organised and violent crime and neighbourhood policing needs to change.  

“It’s a disgrace that our local communities are paying the price for the Conservative Government’s failures to get tough on burglaries.

“The Conservatives must finally bring back proper community policing and back the Liberal Democrats Burglary Response Guarantee so all burglaries are attended by the police. It’s the only way to reverse these shocking figures.”