Some 24,837 car thefts went unsolved in just a three-month period last year – check our digital map to see how different police forces performed across the country
Almost four in five car thefts are not being solved by police, with thugs who break into people’s vehicles left to walk free.
Some 24,837 car thefts went unsolved in just a three-month period last year, according to research by the Liberal Democrats. This is 78.5% – or nearly four in five – of the 31,654 total thefts that took place, the party said.
Just 2.8% of cases resulted in someone being charged or summonsed. London ranked the worst with the Metropolitan Police force failing to solve a staggering 90% of all reported car thefts.
South Yorkshire followed closely behind with 85% of theft going unsolved. Essex, Wiltshire, Sussex and Hertfordshire also all reported that at least 80% of car thefts were unsolved in the quarter ending June 2024.
The Lib Dems blamed the former Tory government for slashing local police numbers. The party called on the new Labour government to urgently restore community policing.
In the PM’s Plan for Change, Keir Starmer set a target to deliver 13,000 additional officers, PCSOs and special constables in neighbourhood roles in England and Wales over this Parliament. A named police officer has been promised for every neighbourhood to help tackle local crime. Labour’s Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee will establish a new performance unit at the Home Office to end the postcode lottery in police standards across the country.
BLUESKY: Follow our Mirror Politics account on Bluesky here. And follow our Mirror Politics team here – Lizzy Buchan, Jason Beattie, Kevin Maguire, Sophie Huskisson, Dave Burke, Ashley Cowburn, Mikey Smith
POLITICS WHATSAPP: Be first to get the biggest bombshells and breaking news by joining our Politics WhatsApp group here. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you want to leave our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
NEWSLETTER: Or sign up here to the Mirror’s Politics newsletter for all the best exclusives and opinions straight to your inbox.
PODCAST: And listen to our exciting new political podcast The Division Bell, hosted by the Mirror and the Express every Thursday.
Lib Dem Home Affairs spokeswoman Lisa Smart said: “Tens of thousands of victims across England and Wales are being left without the justice they deserve, with a staggeringly high number of car thefts going unsolved, and thieves getting away scot free.
“This cannot continue. Every victim of a crime deserves to feel safe and protected by the police, but unfortunately after brutal cuts to community police officers that is far from the truth. We urge the new government to change the course by getting tough on crime, investing properly in local neighbourhood policing and keeping communities safe.”