Conservatives “asleep at the wheel” as just 4% of burglaries in Cumbria result in a charge

Cumbrian MP Tim Farron Liberal Democrats have slammed the Conservatives for being "asleep at the wheel" on tackling community crime after damning new revelations show that almost all burglaries in the county go unpunished.

Analysis of official Home Office data by the Liberal Democrats revealed that just 34, or 4%, of domestic burglaries in Cumbria resulted in a criminal charge or summons in the first three quarters of 2022.

In the same time period, a startling 481 burglaries went unsolved, amounting to 60% of all burglaries in Cumbria.

Tim has slammed the Government for these stark figures, saying the Conservatives have left police forces up and down the country overstretched and underfunded.

Tim is calling for a return to proper community policing - where officers are visible and have the time to focus on preventing and solving crimes - so that criminals can no longer act with impunity.

Tim said: "This news is terrifying for people in Cumbria. This Conservative Government's inaction has led to thousands of burglars getting away with it - and thousands of families waiting endlessly for justice that may never arrive."

"Everyone deserves to feel safe in their homes. The Government must make that possible by giving police forces the officers, time and resources they need to tackle domestic burglaries.

"To do this, Conservative Ministers must finally recruit the extra 20,000 police officers they have promised but failed to deliver."