MP, Labour's Shadow Home
Secretary, responding to today's crime statistics
publication, said:
“These shocking figures show the scale of Conservative failure on
law and order with another steep increase in knife crime and
robbery, and record high shoplifting where organised criminals
are just getting away with it. The Tories are badly failing to
get a grip on the changing patterns of crime.
“Despite repeated warnings from retailers, communities, and from
Labour that action was needed to tackle soaring shoplifting and
abuse affecting our town centres, these figures show that
shoplifting has surged by further 37 per cent in the last 12
months alone to its highest ever recorded level, with ruinous
consequences for our town centres and high streets.
“And despite repeated calls from families and communities for
action on the epidemic of knife crime, it has gone up again this
year and is now 80 per cent higher than in 2015. Recorded gun
crimes, robberies and thefts against the person have also all
soared in the last year.
“Yet criminals are not being caught or paying the price. 90 per
cent of crimes are going unsolved. Two million crimes were
dropped with no suspect being identified - including a shocking
74 per cent of burglaries. That is the shameful Tory legacy on
criminal justice. Our country can't afford to carry on like this.
“Labour has set out practical plans to get neighbourhood police
back into communities and town centres, and to tackle knife crime
as part of our mission to halve serious violence, rebuild
confidence and keep our streets safe.”
Ends
Notes:
- Updated crime and crime outcome statistics for the year
ending December 2023 were published by the ONS and Home Office
today:
- Recorded shoplifting has surged by 37% to a record high of
430,104 offences:
- Knife offences have risen by 7 per cent over the last year,
and 81% since 2015:
- Gun offences have risen by 9 per cent over the last year, and
30% since 2015:
- Robbery has increased by 13 per cent, from 71,983 offences to
81,094:
- Police recorded theft from the person has increased by 18% to
the highest point since 2004, whilst surveyed theft from the
person has also increased:
- Only 10.1 per cent of crimes led to positive action (charge,
out-of-court disposal, diversionary activity) last year:
- 2.36 million crimes were dropped as ‘investigation complete –
no suspect identified' in the past year:
- 74% of burglaries occurring last year were dropped
with no suspect identified:
