Three-quarters of all automotive thefts went unsolved final yr, prompting calls for for an pressing crackdown by police forces. 76% of all thefts went unsolved throughout England and Wales, although this rose to an appalling 88% by the Metropolitan police.
35 of all 44 police forces had a complete fee of 60% of circumstances going unsolved, in keeping with figures from the House of Commons library. The Liberal Democrats have stated this should immediate an pressing “car theft crackdown” by the federal government, calling for a brand new specialist crew to be arrange throughout the National Crime Agency. This squad would pool ANPR digital camera information, insurance coverage data, and intelligence from all police forces and border management to focus on organised automotive crime networks.
LibDem Home Affairs spokesman Max Wilkinson branded the info “a disgrace”.
He blasted: “Time and time again victims of crime are left without the support they need, it’s a disgrace and communities deserve so much better.
“The previous Conservative government betrayed our communities with years of self-defeating cuts to our police forces – and now the current Labour government must not turn a blind eye to this epidemic.
“Enough is enough. That is why the Liberal Democrats are calling for a car theft crackdown, to finally catch the organised gangs and criminals who for far too long have been getting away with it.”
According to the unbiased analysis, automotive thefts have surged over the previous decade, from 56,000 in 2014/15 to 122,000 in 2024/25.
Last month, police warned that automobiles and elements are being stolen and smuggled out of the UK inside 24 hours.
Sgt Ross Haybourne in Kent stated his crew is frequently finishing up operations within the Port of Dover, trying to find stolen automobiles, caravans, quad bikes and different automobiles.
He revealed: “We’ve had reports with trackers etc, where vehicles are going hundreds or thousands of miles away from the UK, often within 24 hours of a theft.
“We stopped a car that was stolen the day before, which was en route to Cyprus and had been ordered.
“We’ve had vehicles tracked as close as France and as far away as North Africa.”
The Home Office has acknowledged that car theft can have a “devastating impact” on Britons.
A spokesman insisted: “For too lengthy, not sufficient has been completed to stop these crimes or to carry these accountable to justice.
“This government is working to change that by introducing new laws banning electronic devices used to steal vehicles, giving the police and courts stronger powers to target criminals who use, manufacture, or supply them.”
https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/2150466/car-thefts-unsolved-2025