Labour: More than 90 per cent of crimes go unsolved again

More than 90 per cent of crimes are going unsolved under the Tories, today’s crime statistics reveal.

The proportion of crimes solved has fallen again compared to last year, while serious violent crime has also risen - with gun crime up 11 per cent last year following devastating shootings shocking the country. 

Knife crime was up by six per cent last year, with total knife crime up by almost 70 per cent compared to 2015 - and record levels of knife-enabled rape and threats to kill.

The 50 per cent increase in the use of imitation firearms to commit crime must also be a wake-up call. 

Yvette Cooper MP, Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary, said:

“It is really disturbing that serious violence is rising again but fewer crimes are being solved, and more victims are being let down after 13 years of the Conservatives. 

“Over the last year, the country has been shocked by a spate of horrific shootings and stabbings. These figures confirm the grim reality that gun crime and knife crime are on the rise again. Ministers should be particularly concerned by the 50 per cent rise in the use of imitation firearms to commit crime. The Government has no grip on this rising serious violence. 

“At the same time the proportion of crimes solved has fallen again over the last year – 90 per cent of crimes go unsolved, and 95 per cent of criminals are not charged. After 13 years of the Conservatives more criminals are being let off and more victims are being let down. Labour will put 13,000 more neighbourhood police and PCSOs on our streets to prevent crime, catch criminals and keep communities safe.”

Ends

Notes:

• New crime and crime outcomes statistics were published by the ONS and the Home Office today respectively:

• These statistics confirm that over the past year, recorded knife crime rose by 6% between December 2021 and December 2022 (from 46,334 to 49,265 offences). Total levels of knife crime remain 69% higher than in 2015:

• Total firearms offences increased by 11% over the past year (from 5,581 to 6,193 offences). Total levels of gun crime remain X% higher than in 2015, with the ONS attributing recent rises to a 49% increase in offences involving imitation firearms:

• In 2021, 10.2% of crimes were ‘solved’ (resulting in a charge/summons, out-of-court disposal, or Outcome 22 disposal). This fell to just 9.6% in 2022, meaning that 90.4% of crimes went unsolved: