Police Failed to Solve 92% of Burglaries in Britain Last Year, Leaving Vast Areas With Zero Detections
British police failed to solve a staggering 92 per cent of burglaries last year, according to a detailed investigation by The Sun, raising serious concerns about rising crime and the effectiveness of policing under the current government.
Of the nearly 200,000 burglary investigations completed in 2025, 143,000 were closed without a suspect being identified – an average of 393 unsolved cases every day. In a further 27,500 cases, a suspect was identified but could not be prosecuted, while in 400 cases further action was deemed “not in the public interest.”
The true scale is likely even higher, as around 45,000 additional probes were still ongoing at the time of reporting and are overwhelmingly expected to close without a result.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp described the figures as “totally unacceptable” and demanded that Labour “get a grip” on the issue. He said burglary has been “effectively decriminalised” in parts of the country.
In more than a third of neighbourhoods across England and Wales – 1,528 out of 4,536 where burglaries were recorded – not a single case was solved. Some areas recorded dozens or even hundreds of break-ins with zero detections.
The worst-hit neighbourhood was Colindale in North London, where 131 burglaries were investigated but none solved. London dominated the top ten worst areas, with other hotspots including Totteridge and Woodside, Abbey Road, Cockfosters, Maida Vale, and New Cross.
Outside the capital, parts of Basingstoke in Hampshire and northern Stevenage in Hertfordshire recorded zero solved burglaries, with 78 cases going unsolved in the latter.
Leeds was the worst-affected city overall, with 4,414 burglaries across four neighbourhoods but only 248 solved.
The investigation also highlighted the low charge rate for phone thefts, with less than one per cent leading to a suspect being charged.
High-Profile Cases Highlight the Problem
The figures come against a backdrop of several high-profile burglaries targeting celebrities and public figures. Love Island star Maya Jama and footballer Ruben Dias had their Cheshire home raided while he was playing abroad. Actress Michelle Keegan’s Essex mansion was targeted, though the intruders were scared off by her husband Mark Wright. Former Spurs manager Harry Redknapp’s Sandbanks home was raided for £300,000 worth of jewellery while his wife was in hospital. Game of Thrones stars Kit Harington and Rose Leslie also suffered a break-in at their Suffolk estate.
These cases have fuelled public anger and criticism that police are failing to protect even high-profile victims, let alone ordinary households.
Calls for Urgent Action
Former Met detective Peter Bleksley said burglary has been “effectively decriminalised” in many areas. He criticised the practice of quickly closing cases when victims cannot immediately provide suspects or CCTV footage.
The National Police Chiefs’ Council responded that in some cases there is insufficient intelligence or data to act upon, but stressed that cases are not closed indefinitely and that new information is still considered.
The Home Office pointed to planned reforms, including the creation of a new National Police Service and the deployment of an additional 3,000 neighbourhood officers by spring to focus on local crimes such as burglary.
However, critics argue that these measures are insufficient and too slow given the scale of the problem.
