Over Half of UK Police Forces Failing in Crime Investigation

Greater Manchester Police stands out as the only force to improve its crime investigation record this year.

More than half of the 43 police forces in England and Wales are failing to properly investigate crime, according to official watchdog reports.
The proportion of crimes solved has plummeted to record lows, with just one in 18 offences reported to police leading to a suspect being charged in the year to June 2023.
Greater Manchester Police is the only force to have improved its performance ratings for investigating crime this year, with a 'back-to-basics' approach leading to a 44% increase in charges.
The performance of five forces – the Metropolitan Police, West Midlands, Devon and Cornwall, Staffordshire and Wiltshire – is of such concern that they are currently in special measures.
Humberside emerged as the best force in Britain across eight criteria, while the six worst in 2021/22 were Wiltshire, Greater Manchester, Northamptonshire, Staffordshire, Cleveland and the Met.