New national policing guidelines require officers’ attendance at the scene of a domestic break-in within an hour of the report to increase the likelihood of solving the case.

Following a report, officers must conduct forensic tests, carry out searches, interview neighbours and collect CCTV footage or video doorbell recordings. This policy aims to reassure victims and foster trust and confidence in the police.

The guidance was released as the latest Home Office data revealed that in three out of four residential break-ins in England and Wales, no suspect was identified. Meanwhile, charges against offenders are brought in fewer than four percent of cases.

The statistics align with Labour’s previous analysis of crime statistics. According to the party’s data, over 1 million theft cases went unsolved last year, with 1,145,254 instances dropped due to the police’s inability to identify a suspect. The analysis also highlighted that, on average, victims incur a cost of £1,400 per domestic burglary.

“Effective action during the golden hour will increase the opportunity to identify suspects, protect victims and witnesses, and help to secure positive criminal justice outcomes,” the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) said in its guidance.

In 2022, former Home Secretary Suella Braverman also urged police forces to ensure officer visits after burglaries. She cautioned against prioritising symbolic gestures over crime prevention and noted the significance of practical policing over diversity initiatives.

Why solving burglaries can be difficult

Solving burglaries is often challenging, leading to debates about whether it is wise to allocate resources to cases involving minimal stolen items and low chances of catching the perpetrator. However, many victims express frustration that police are reluctant to review CCTV footage or even visit the crime scene in certain instances.

A recent burglary case example involves Sharon Allen. The burglar took thousands of pounds worth of power tools from her home in St. Albans. In response, she independently conducted door-to-door inquiries and collected CCTV footage from her neighbours, which she then provided to the police.

After that, an officer visited her home, but Allen has received no further updates. According to her, the burglar, whom she recognises due to his “distinctive nose,” remains in the vicinity and has been observed loitering around nearby shops.

Unfortunately, Hertfordshire Constabulary has one of the country’s lowest burglary clear-up rates. In St Albans, a city of 148,000 residents located 25 miles north of central London, no police station has been accessible to the public since 2015, despite some officers stationed at its civic centre.

A shift in the strategy is important, and this was proven by a two-year trial run by the Greater Manchester Police.

GMP’s Superintendent Chris Foster mentioned that in the past, the approach was: “We can’t do anything about it, sorry,” and the case was closed. Since there were changes in the strategy, there has been an increase in arrests. Their charge rate rose from three to eight percent in the past two years, leading to a decline in burglary rates.

Despite an approximately 80 percent decline in burglary rates since the mid-1990s in England and Wales, there are still over 1,000 break-ins occurring daily.

How to deter burglars

Although the police are working to improve its forces in tackling break-ins, residents can help by installing burglar deterrents at their homes.

A comprehensive set of security tools, such as CCTV cameras, intruder alarms, motion-activated lights or even dogs, can help prevent burglars from breaking into your home. On top of that, locking the doors and windows of your home and outbuildings (garage and shed) can significantly increase your security.

If you would like advice on implementing a suitable security plan or if your current systems are insufficient for safeguarding your property and valuables, consider seeking assistance from security firms such as Marengo. They can create bespoke security plans and deploy security personnel based on your specific security needs.

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-67298145.amp

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/25177481/police-attend-burglaries-hour-guidelines/

https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/new-rules-police-attending-burglaries-28356852 

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-63015388