Prosecutions in England and Wales have fallen to a new low even as recorded crime reaches new heights, according to reports.
The latest statistics show police recorded crime up 11 percent to 5.5 million — with some the increase for some very serious offences significantly greater — but prosecutions and out of court disposals have plunged by 7 percent to the lowest total number since records began in 1970.
Alternative methods of tackling offending are also falling, with cautions for cannabis abuse down 14 percent and on-the-spot fines — which can be used for cannabis possession, theft of goods worth less than £100, harassment, and public drunkenness and disorderliness — down 27 percent, The Telegraph reports.
Budget cuts an increase in the workload associated with complex crimes such as child grooming and sexual exploitation have been blamed for the collapse.
“The system is under so much strain that cases that would have been routinely thought of as being in the interests of justice are now not being followed,” confessed Commons Home Affairs Committee MP John Woodcock.
“Behind these headline statistics, there is a human side, individuals whose lives have been blighted by crime and who will be feeling badly let down, not only by the absence of justice, but the message it sends to criminals, that the chances are you will get away with it,” added Victims’ Commissioner Baroness Newlove.
“It is important that we reverse this trend and re-build public trust and confidence. If we don’t, there is a real risk that victims will simply give up reporting the crimes committed against them – thereby creating a real disconnect between the public and our law enforcers.”
Police Federation boss John Apter has already admitted that “We are moving into an area where some crimes will not be investigated, whereas two to five years ago they were… In those cases we are failing the public… the public are already suffering and they are going to suffer more and more.”
The Ministry of Justice, led by controversial Theresa May ally David Gauke, claims the apparent crime rise is merely a product of “better recording”, according to The Telegraph.
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