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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
National
Vikram Dodd Police and crime correspondent

Police in England, Wales and NI too overworked to investigate crimes properly – report

Police England Wales HMICFRS
Two police officers
Positive outcomes – when police identify a suspect and they face justice – fell to 11% last year, from 25% a decade ago. Photograph: Christopher Thomond/The Guardian

Overworked police lack the resources, time and experience to investigate crimes properly, leading to victims being failed and an erosion in faith in law enforcement, an official report has found.

The report by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) says that the rate of positive outcomes – when police identify a suspect and they face justice – has crashed from 25% in England and Wales a decade ago to 11% in 2024.

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