Investigations into ’80 robberies a day’ closed last year without suspect identified, claim Lib Dems

Investigations into some 80 robberies a day were closed last year without a suspect being identified, the Liberal Democrats have claimed.

The party also said it had commissioned research which showed 30,000 muggings across England and Wales went unsolved in 2022.

The Lib Dems have accused Home Secretary Suella Braverman of becoming “embroiled in endless scandals” while criminals are “let off the hook”.

The Home Secretary herself faced claims she had been left “off the hook” after it was confirmed she would not face an independent investigation into allegations she broke the ministerial code when it came to how she handled her speeding ticket.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak defended his decision not to launch a formal investigation into his home secretary, saying he spent “time going through” what had happened.

Ms Braverman asked officials if she could attend a private speed awareness course after a speeding offence.

Research from the House of Commons Library shows more than one in two robbery reports (54%) went unsolved, the Lib Dems said.

A suspect was charged in fewer than one in 12 (8%) instances, according to the party.

The figures include cases where personal property has been robbed and which include violence or threats to the victim.

The worst performing force according to the Lib Dem figures was West Midlands Police, with a suspect charged in just 4% of robberies reported in 2022.

It was closely followed by Northamptonshire (5%), Avon and Somerset (6%) and Hampshire (6%), the research showed.

Click to subscribe to Beth Rigby Interviews… wherever you get your podcasts

Lib Dem Treasury spokesperson Sarah Olney MP commissioned the research.

“These shocking figures show muggings are being effectively decriminalised, with far too many violent criminals let off the hook,” she said.

“People are being left feeling unsafe walking down their own local streets, because this Conservative government has slashed neighbourhood policing to the bone.

“Crime victims are being abandoned while the Home Secretary Suella Braverman is embroiled in endless scandals.”

Read more from Sky News:
‘Honey Monster’ killer handed life sentence for double jeopardy murder
Mother and father who murdered baby on Christmas Day 2020 jailed
Carer who climbed into teenage girl’s bed ‘was sleepwalking’

A Home Office spokesman said it expects police to “take all incidents seriously”.

“Robbery is an invasive and unsettling crime for victims and we expect police to take all incidents seriously,” he said.

“We are providing police with the resources they need, having delivered on our commitment to recruit 20,000 additional police officers by March 2023, the highest it has ever been.

“We are also supporting police by providing funding for crime prevention measures, including better street lighting and CCTV, and equipping police with better technology to help their investigations and catch more criminals.”