Four in ten crimes went unsolved by the police in 2021, new official figures show, with an average of 5,000 unsolved crimes every day.
New figures from the Office for National Statistics show that overall crime was 18% higher in 2021 compared with 2019, driven by a 54% increase in fraud and computer misuse.
Liberal Democrat analysis of new Home Office figures show that 1.8 million cases were closed by the police in 2021 without a suspect even being identified – 39% of all cases closed.
Responding to the statistics, Liberal Democrats Home Affairs Spokesperson Alistair Carmichael MP said: “Crime is soaring on the Conservatives’ watch. They are failing our communities, making people less safe, and letting far too many criminals get away with it.
“Boris Johnson and Priti Patel love to talk tough on crime, but they’re failing to deliver the extra police officers they promised, or even to get the basics right. As a result, too many people’s lives are being ruined by burglaries, anti-social behaviour, fraud and scams.
“Liberal Democrats are calling for proper community policing, where officers are visible, trusted and focused on cutting crime. These local elections are a chance to send the Conservatives a message and elect Liberal Democrat councillors who will work hard to prevent crime and make sure people can truly feel safe in their communities.”