A new report has revealed that police forces in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland are struggling to investigate crimes effectively due to overwhelming workloads, staff shortages, and a lack of resources.
The findings, published by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS), warn that these issues are leading to failed victims and a growing lack of public confidence in law enforcement.
The report highlights a significant drop in positive outcomes—cases where a suspect is identified and faces justice. A decade ago, 25% of recorded crimes in England and Wales led to a positive outcome.
In 2024, this has plummeted to just 11%. Some forces perform better than others, with the best achieving a 20% rate while the worst barely reach 7%.
In contrast, Northern Ireland, which has invested more in investigative skills, sees a rate of over 30%.
Police are particularly struggling with high-volume crimes such as assault, burglary, car theft, and shoplifting. Many officers report being overwhelmed and unable to manage caseloads effectively.
According to HMICFRS, no investigative team had enough resources to handle their workload, with some officers forced to abandon ongoing investigations to respond to new emergency calls.
Since 2015, the number of crimes recorded per thousand people has risen by 44%, while police numbers and staff have declined. Investigators are often left feeling frustrated and embarrassed by their inability to provide victims with timely updates.
Many report having only two days out of every ten to focus on existing cases, as they are constantly diverted to new incidents.
The report also highlights a concerning rise in inexperienced officers handling complex cases beyond their training, such as fraud.
Cuts to police numbers in 2010, followed by rapid recruitment drives in recent years, have created a force with many officers lacking the necessary investigative skills.
Beyond policing, the report sheds light on wider issues within the criminal justice system. Backlogs in courts mean that victims often withdraw from cases due to long delays, while police files sent to prosecutors are frequently incomplete, further slowing down the process.
Katie Kempen, CEO of the charity Victim Support, warns that the current situation is eroding trust in the justice system.
She notes that with more victims seeing cases go unresolved and government funding for victim support services being cut, public confidence is at risk of further decline.
HMICFRS concludes that police forces need more officers, better training, and improved resource management to tackle these challenges.
Without urgent changes, the ability to investigate and solve crimes will continue to deteriorate, leaving more victims without justice.
