Families and businesses in Gloucestershire left to ‘fend for themselves’ as only 4% of burglary cases in Gloucestershire result in a charge

• In Gloucestershire a total of 2182 burglaries were recorded, according to crime figures from 2025 analysed by the Liberal Democrats.
• In Gloucestershire, just 3.7% of cases resulted in a charge, with 69% of cases closing without the police identifying a suspect.
• Cllr Paul Hodgkinson, Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate for North Cotswolds, has slammed the Government’s handling of crime as “asleep at the wheel”, and has called for emergency legislation to legally bind police forces to attend every single burglary.

New figures from 2025, show that of the 223,194 burglaries reported in England and Wales, just 13,936 (6.24%) resulted in someone being charged, whilst in a shocking 160,396 (71.86%) cases police failed to even identify a suspect. In Gloucestershire, those figures are even worse with a 3.7% charge/summons rate, and 69% of cases where the police fail to identify a suspect.

Home Office data analysed by the Liberal Democrats, have found that 96.3% of the 2182 burglary cases reported in Gloucestershire result in the criminal getting away scot free. Local Lib Dem Parliamentary Candidate Paul Hodgkinson is demanding an urgent restoration of neighbourhood police funding.

Cllr Hodgkinson (GCC, Bourton and Northleach) has slammed the Government’s handling of the situation as “asleep at the wheel”, calling out Andy Burnham for failing to commit to tackling crime since taking office.

Paul is urging Ministers to get a grip on crime and bring forward emergency legislation to ensure that all domestic burglaries are attended by the police and properly investigated. Currently, the vast majority of burglars are getting away with the crimes they are committing.

Nationally the Liberal Democrats have urged the Prime Minister to bring in a ‘Burglary Response Guarantee’, to reassure families across Gloucestershire that burglaries will be investigated, and that the criminals involved will be brought to justice. 

Cllr Paul Hodgkinson said: 

“It is unacceptable that families and businesses across the North Cotswolds are being left at risk as the vast majority of burglaries go unsolved. I know that people are very worried when they see burglaries in their area. The Government has been asleep at the wheel, a persistent lack of support for community policing has left our streets vulnerable.

“In 96% of burglary cases, the victims never see someone charged - that has to change. Gloucestershire’s police works tirelessly but they require the proper resources and mandate from central government to ensure every single case is rigorously investigated.

“That’s why I’m demanding urgent action from the Prime Minister, to restore neighbourhood policing and back our calls for an investigation guarantee for all burglaries in our county.”