Police promise to pursue any 'reasonable' lead to improve investigations
28.08.2023 - 09:09
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Police forces have vowed to follow all 'reasonable lines of enquiry' in an effort to improve investigations and solve crimes. Officers in England and Wales will consider all potential evidence – such as footage from CCTV, doorbells and dashcams, as well as phone tracking – if it could lead to a suspect or stolen property, as part of a new set of guidelines.
While the pledge applies to all crimes, Home Secretary Suella Braverman implored officers to act on leads for phone or car theft, shoplifting and criminal damage. She said it was 'unacceptable' such crimes have been treated as 'less important'.
The commitment, agreed by the Home Office, the National Police Chiefs’ Council and College of Policing, comes as part of a 'crime week' of policy announcements planned by the Government.
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But Labour branded it a 'staggering admission of 13 years of Tory failure on policing and crime'. Ms Braverman said: "The police have made progress in preventing crime across the country with neighbourhood offences like burglary, robbery and vehicle theft down by 51% since 2010.
"Despite this success, since I became Home Secretary I’ve heard too many accounts from victims where police simply haven't acted on helpful leads because crimes such as phone and car thefts are seen as less important – that’s unacceptable. It has damaged people’s confidence in policing.
"Criminals must have no place to hide. The police's commitment today is a huge step forward towards delivering the victim-focused, common-sense policing the public deserve."
The move comes on top of a previous commitment for forces to attend every home burglary in a new set of standards