Four car thefts a day went unsolved by police in Sussex last year

A staggering 80% of car thefts in Sussex went unsolved last year, analysis by the Liberal Democrats has revealed. Meanwhile, just 4.3% resulted in a charge or summons.

The analysis, based on the latest Home Office statistics on crime outcomes, showed that a grand total of over 1500 car theft cases in Sussex were closed in 2022 without a suspect even being identified - equivalent to more than 4 car thefts going unsolved every day.

It follows previous research from the Liberal Democrats which showed that police failed to even attend 3 in 4 car thefts last year. 

Nationally, just one in thirty (3.4%) car thefts resulted in a suspect being charged. 

Sussex area Liberal Democrats warned that the government is overseeing a “car theft epidemic”, as criminals act with impunity while victims are denied justice.  

The party has slammed the Government for these figures, arguing that years of unnecessary Conservative cuts and putting resources in the wrong places has decimated community policing. Since 2015, the Conservatives have also taken over 4,000 Police Community Support Officers off the streets. 

Liberal Democrats are calling for a return to proper community policing - where officers are visible and trusted, with the time and resources to focus on preventing and solving crimes.

Commenting on the figures, John Milne, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Horsham, said: 

“These new figures are terrifying for people in Sussex It shows the extent of a car theft epidemic that the Conservatives are totally failing to tackle, especially in and around Horsham. 

“People just want to know that if their car is stolen or house broken into, the police will turn up and properly investigate it. But this Conservative government has decimated community policing, leaving victims of crime to fend for themselves.

“The Liberal Democrats want to see a return to proper community policing, making our communities safer.”