London, United Kingdom – The Liberal Democrats claim that over 365,000 cases of bike theft have gone unsolved in the UK over the past five years, effectively resulting in the decriminalization of this crime. According to official crime data, an average of 200 bicycle thefts per day occurred without any culprits being apprehended, the party stated. These unsolved crimes since 2019 make up 89% of all bike thefts during this period, with only 2% of cases leading to a suspect being charged.
The party’s home affairs spokesman, Alistair Carmichael MP, emphasized the need for a return to “proper community policing” in response to these shocking figures. He stated that the neglect under the Conservative government has emboldened criminals and left frontline police officers without the necessary resources to investigate crimes like bike theft properly.
In addition to the issue of bike theft, the Daily Mail reported that police in the UK abandon investigations into four crimes every minute without tracking down the culprits. This has raised serious questions about the effectiveness of government investment in policing, including the Home Office’s “police uplift” program, which saw a significant increase in the number of officers in England and Wales in recent years.
While the Liberal Democrats have called for a restoration of community policing, Police Minister Chris Philp dismissed their concerns and emphasized the Conservative government’s efforts to reduce theft offenses and violent crime. However, the data on unsolved bike thefts and overall crime investigations raises concerns about the efficacy of law enforcement and the allocation of resources.
In summary, the Liberal Democrats have raised alarm about the decriminalization of bike theft in the UK, citing over 365,000 unsolved cases in the past five years. This has sparked a debate about the effectiveness of law enforcement and government investment in policing, with questions raised about the allocation of resources and the need for community policing.