Four-in-ten crimes are dropped by the police in Devon and Cornwall
FOUR in ten crimes – more than 36,000 offences – were not investigated by Devon and Cornwall Police last year after it judged there was little chance of finding those responsible.
Crimes "screened out" by the force included more than 11,000 incidents of criminal damage, 4,000 thefts from vehicles and 3,700 burglaries.
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Figures showed that of the 91,532 crimes reported to Devon and Cornwall Police, 36,575 – or 40 per cent – weren't deemed worthy of further investigation after an initial assessment.
The rate – which rose from 33.7 per cent in 2010-11 – lead to accusations that the force was trying to reduce its workload because of falling numbers of police officers.
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Sergeant Nigel Rabbitts, branch chairman of the Police Federation, said: "It is just an attempt to drive down demand because of a lack of resources.
"The force is trying to adjust for a lack of police officers to investigate crime otherwise they simply would not be able to cope.
"I think it represents a pretty poor service to the public and I'm sure our members believe they are screening out crimes at source when, with a bit of time and effort, they could be solved."
The force has already lost around 300 officers – from a high of 3,500 – as its strives to meet the four-year, £51 million budget cuts imposed by the Government.
By 2015 some 700 police officers and 500 police staff will have been cut.
In the last two years, the proportion of crimes not deemed worth of "secondary investigation" have fluctuated.
In 2009-10 the rate was 37.2 per cent, or 34,527 crimes, which they dropped to 33.7 per cent, or 29,236 offences, in 2010-11.
Figures released by the force under the Freedom of Information Act for 2011-12 showed officers were least likely to investigate thefts from vehicles where 4,118 of 5,468 offences (75.3 per cent) were screened out.
Next in the table was vehicle interference with 286 crimes (74.5 per cent) followed by "other theft" with 9,477 (63.9 per cent) and criminal damage with 11,050 (61.1 per cent).
They also showed that 331 house burglaries (7.8 per cent) and 3,410 "other burglaries" (60.3 per cent) went without inquiry. Rates were significantly better for more serious offences such as robbery where 480 of 498 crimes (96.4 per cent) were subject to further inquiries and serious assault where 542 of 573 incidents (94.6 per cent) were investigated.
Concerns over the number of crimes going without investigation come after criticism by inspectors that Devon and Cornwall Police were "under-recording" crime in the aftermath of a major reorganisation last May.
But, just weeks after the system was introduced, a review by officers from HM Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) "indicated some cause for concern – specifically the under-recording of crime".
Inspectors also said "considerable numbers of crimes and antisocial behaviour incidents were not being correctly recorded".
A Devon and Cornwall Police spokesman said: "Investigation of a reported crime starts immediately within our call handling centre. Those crimes, where there is viable potential for a positive outcome will be allocated for further investigation.
"Where there is little potential for such an outcome, victims will be informed at the earliest opportunity, offered crime prevention advice and the services of Victim Support."
That assessment, he explained, was carried out by trained members of staff who also researched police databases "to ensure that we do not hold any other data that could identify a line of inquiry".
Cases initially "screened out" could also be reopened if new information became available. They were also added to databases to "identify crime patterns and series".
He added: "Devon and Cornwall Police are committed to continually reviewing our investigation processes to ensure we meet the needs of the public and operate a policy to ensure that we effectively respond to all reports of crime. The local policing teams also provide reassurance visits to victims of crime where it is needed and this could be after a crime has been filed.
"Effective crime assessment is essential as it allows us to prioritise our resources to ensure we deliver the best possible service to the victims of crime."
Comments
by belly1234
Tuesday, August 14 2012, 2:57PM
“So some people expect the police to be able to know who broke into their car while it was parked overnight outside their own house but they don't have any idea who did it themselves.
Some people expect the police to know who threw the brick through their lounge window while they were sat in it watching Jeremy Kyle, but have no idea who did it themselves.
Some people expect the police to know who assaulted them despite them not being able to describe what the person looks like.
Some people want the police to drive 10 miles to ask their neighbours if they saw/heard anything as they are incapable of doing it themselves. Some people get burgled while sleeping and leaving the back door unlocked and they expect the police to know who was walking about their house while they were in it.
I think you will find the police are people who are trained to investigate leads not clairvoyants.”
by Workitout
Friday, August 10 2012, 8:17PM
“Does this mean we can get rid of the "Riff Raff" in their paid for
houses, due to crime and theft??
I would LOVE to.......But the Law is on Their Side??
Thats why they have all the money from the Social for their
kids, mothers, grannies and self carring..as they breed the dogs,
sell the drugs and screw the old neighbours for money, making
time to go from 32A to 32B.”
by Workitout
Friday, August 10 2012, 8:04PM
“I was burgled 20 years ago!!!
I'm still waiting for a "call back"”
by jackplane
Friday, August 10 2012, 6:40PM
“my mother was robbed in her home by to males thay pushed her over took her hand bag etc police came never heard any more ,it destroyed my mother she went into a home and passed away ,still have not heard nothing”
by stunted
Friday, August 10 2012, 5:51PM
“A couple of years ago, my parents elderly neighbour had an intruder in her back garden, trying to get into her house. She phoned the police, Crownhill police station only five minutes up the road. A police officer turned up the following afternoon. A shoplifter caught in a supermarket gets a more urgent response from the police. The lack in faith in our police comes from their approach to fighting the more impersonal crimes as to those closer to home. Whilst in London last year, during the teachers march, the amount of police officers stationed outside The Savoy was the most amount of police officers I have ever seen in one place. While I still have respect for our police it seems those in charge have no respect for us.”
by CharlieDodd
Friday, August 10 2012, 5:23PM
“I like the extreme right parties idea of forming 'Citizen Patrols' to go out keeping neighbourhoods secure. If the police won't protect us, we'll have to protect ourselves..;)”
by blogtodi
Friday, August 10 2012, 4:40PM
“Sadly, and joking aside, vigilante-ism is only a step away from inefficient policing. There's a story today about a cyclist being attacked by three people. Vigilantes, do you think? Did they decide that the police weren't going to do anything so took the law into their own hands?
I hope it wasn't that... because, if it was, our society is going down the wrong road...”
by mcspredder
Thursday, August 09 2012, 11:11PM
“Sounds like it's time to give the streets back to the people. The police should give the file of any work they've done on a case to the victim to continue to pursue if they so desire, with a private investigator, family members, friendly baseball team....”
by GreenGOM
Thursday, August 09 2012, 8:10PM
“Lack of resources, misappropriation of resources or a degree of ineptitude?”
by pooshooter7
Thursday, August 09 2012, 6:52PM
“Having said all that i should have been a copper,as iam always helping them with their inquiries lol”