Police chiefs have announced officers in every force across the country will now attend ALL home burglaries in a new set of standards they hope will result in more crimes being solved and more thieves prosecuted. While some forces, including GMP, already have policies to send officers to all burglary reports, others attend only where victims are vulnerable or elderly, or where there are evidential lines of inquiry to be followed up.
The National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) said today chief constables would work to ensure the new directive is implemented 'as soon as practically possible'. Responding to the news, announced following a review of burglary deployment across the country, Greater Manchester Police said it was already committed to the pledge - and had been since July of last year.
GMP figures show burglary arrest numbers are up, with 305 suspects held across Greater Manchester in the last month alone.
READ MORE: Appeal after teen attacked and threatened with knife in 'violent kidnap'
Operation Castle - a force wide response to tackling burglaries - launched in July last year. There were 430 burglary arrests made between August 2020 and the operation's launch. But since its inception, that figure has risen to 842 over the same period a year on, equating to a 95.8 per cent increase.
The force said today that some of the highest performing districts in Greater Manchester, like Rochdale, were achieving results that are amongst the best nationally. Figures in Rochdale show that since July 2021, officers have arrested more than 200 burglars, secured in excess of 300 criminal charges and assisted the courts in securing prison sentences which collectively top 75 years.
In July, GMP said Lee Fennessey, from Rochdale, was sentenced to 11 years in prison for a series of 15 burglaries targeting elderly residents. Fennessey, said the force, even resorted to using violence against some of the victims, the eldest of them being 96.
Earlier this year, in January, and last December, Mohammed Rameez, 29, of Ann Street, Rochdale, committed a string of burglaries at commercial premises in Rochdale town centre. He was finally apprehended following extensive forensic work which linked him to six burglaries, and he was jailed for 28 months.
Superintendent Chris Foster, GMP's force lead of tackling burglary, said: "Over the last 15 months Greater Manchester Police has committed to attending each and every residential burglary reported to us.
"Burglary is a horrible and intrusive crime that often leaves victims feeling vulnerable and unsafe in their own homes. It is therefore only right that we use all of our policing powers to deal with those individuals who invade the homes of others and steal their property.
"While there is still much progress yet to be made, there is also a lot to be proud of in what has been achieved so far. I particularly hope that the results come as a reassurance to the public and highlight the superb work that is happening across our force every day.
"I would also like to use this milestone as an opportunity to underline our commitment to investigate burglary and reaffirm our pledge that we will continue to pursue every viable line of enquiry to bring offenders to justice."
The NPCC said an evidence review from the College of Policing, which is responsible for setting the standards for policing, had shown how swift attendance of officers at scenes of crime can increase victim satisfaction and aid investigations, as well as helping with the prevention of future crimes in the area.
NPCC chairman, Martin Hewitt, said: “The number of burglaries is at an all-time low – down 51 per cent over the past decade due to increased investment by police and partners in preventing them happening in the first place.
"Wherever you live in England and Wales you can be confident the police will attend if you experience the invasion of a home burglary. This should see more burglaries solved and more offenders prosecuted."
College of Policing chief Andy Marsh said suffering a burglary can 'steal a person’s sense of security from the place where they should feel safest'.
He added: "Officers across the country want to be locking up criminals and keeping communities safe. Our standards will help bring consistency to the police’s response, enable them to get the basics right and deliver what the public expect."
Read more of today's top stories here
READ NEXT:
- Teenager who killed dad-of-one in 'unusual circumstances' walks free from court
- Driver 'covered in wet grass' headbutted police officer after high-speed chase down wrong side of motorway
- Referee left with 'significant injuries' after being attacked on pitch during amateur football match
- 'He can't afford it': Tory mayor questions Andy Burnham's vision for London-style bus system
- ‘I was neglected for hours while in labour and lost my baby - the hospital admits my child could have been saved’
