Landmark Agreement signed by all Chief Constables in England and Wales
In an unprecedented decision taken by England’s police chiefs, it’s been agreed that in future, officers will attend every domestic burglary - no matter where you live or what was taken.
The move comes on the back of depressing statistics that show 774 break-ins go unsolved every day and that, in some areas, case prosecution rates are less than 2%.
The Chairman of the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC), Martin Hewitt, has urged that more criminals should now face court prosecution. “Wherever you live in England and Wales, you can be confident the police will attend if you experience the invasion of a home burglary” he said, adding that the knock-on effect of greater police visibility should lead to more burglaries being solved and more offenders being prosecuted.
In a poll by the Daily Mail, 75% of those surveyed believed the police should visit victims of burglary. Writing in the newspaper, Mr Hewitt asserted: “We want to give people the peace of mind of knowing if you experience that invasion, the police will come, find all possible evidence and make every effort to catch those responsible.”
According to official figures, of 1.76 million burglaries reported across England and Wales over the past five years, 1.41 million were closed without a suspect being identified, let alone being prosecuted.
Meanwhile, research undertaken by Churchill Home Insurance reveals that:
96% of over 55s believe that the police don’t treat crime seriously enough
97% of victims said a raid on their home affected their everyday activities
37% said it had had a huge impact
More than a third said they felt violated by the experience
It is findings such as these which led the College of Policing to have what was described as a 'rapid evidence assessment'. Reporting to the country’s police chiefs at the end of September, it was decided that visiting crime scenes could provide investigative opportunities to solve the case, reassure victims and prevent future offences.
The new commitment will be brought into force as soon as possible. Chief Constable Andy Marsh, Chief Executive of the College of Policing, said: “Officers across the country want to be locking up criminals and keeping communities safe. Our standards will help bring consistency to the police's response, enable them to get the basics right and deliver what the public expect.”
He said that 20,000 extra police officers would be recruited and millions of pounds injected into high-crime neighbourhoods for improved CCTV, street lighting and home security measures, creating much harder environments for break-ins.
Welcoming the decision reached by police chiefs, Justice Fire & Security Managing Director, Dave Sanders, said that the more reassurance and support that the police gave to victims of crime was a step in the right direction. However, he reiterated that prevention was always better than cure and that by deterring criminals from breaking-in in the first place, should always be the main priority.
“That’s why we would always recommend taking all necessary measures to stay safe. Having a clearly visible intruder alarm installed in your property and ensuring that windows and entry points are properly secured is the most effective way to prevent crime from happening,” he advised.
“That’s why home insurance companies are prepared to reduce their premiums if you have a properly maintained burglar alarm on site. Insurers recognise that there is far less risk of homeowners needing to make claims, if robust security measures are in place.”
If you have any concerns about your home security arrangements, our experienced team is on hand to provide you with all the advice and guidance you need.
We will come out to your home and make a thorough inspection of the site, free of charge, before recommending the most appropriate course of action. To book an appointment, please call our main switchboard on 0845 468 0927.
