5,000 sex crimes 'undetected', Lib Dems claim

By Alex Stevenson

Nearly 5,000 extra sexual offences would be detected each year if police improved their clear-up rate to those of the best five forces, according to the Liberal Democrats.

Based on crime figures from England and Wales in 2007/08, the Lib Dems worked out how many extra crimes would be uncovered if detection rates were increased to the national average and then increased to the minimum level of the top five police forces.

They found 416,461 extra crimes would be detected overall, including over 130,000 violent offences and 50,000 robberies and burglaries.

And they claimed over 80,000 crimes would be solved that are not today as a result, including nearly 35,000 violent crimes and almost 900 sexual offences.

VoiceOver

Unite: Police Privatisation 999

"We can cut crime by spreading best practice from the top police forces," Lib Dem home affairs spokesperson Chris Huhne said.

"Catching more criminals means more police on the street for longer, intensive policing in hotspots and learning from what works."

Mr Huhne said policing and criminal justice policy had been distracted by Britain's' two main parties sounding tough rather than taking effective action.

"You could introduce sharia law in Britain and it would make little difference unless detection rates improve," he added.

"The best police forces can show the way."

Political news to your inbox

Fill in your details to receive Politics.co.uk's brand of informed, in-depth and independent coverage of Westminster to your inbox

Hot topics

Britain's great energy debate

How the power gets to Britain's homes in the next century remains a matter of deep controversy

As the next general election begins to loom over the horizon, the debate over Britain's future energy policy mix is starting to hot up - and nothing seems guaranteed.

The Heathrow third runway debate

Heathrow's third runway is just one of many options

There won't be a final decision on Britain's long-term aviation strategy until after the 2015 general election - but an aggressive national debate is already underway.

Opinion Former Events

MRSA Action UK Annual Memorial Event

Families will pay tribute and remember those lost to MRSA and healthcare associated infections at Westminster Abbey on Thursday 13th June 2013

BSIA: Information Destruction Exhibition & Conference 2013

Following the great success of the BSIA's Information Destruction Conference and Exhibition in May 2012, we are pleased to annouce that the event is returning again in June 2013. This one-day conference and exhibition is aimed at key decision makers in organisations that carry out the secure destruction of confidential material.