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Burgled? Police won't turn up unless culprit is still in your house
Last updated at 23:07pm on 01.01.07
Police are to scrap sending officers to reports of burglaries if the suspect has already fled the scene. Forces will instead despatch civilian 'scenes of crime' staff to examine the break-in for evidence.
Senior officers say the new scheme will improve detection rates by retrieving potential clues such as fingerprints or DNA evidence more quickly.
But critics point out that many victims would prefer being spoken to by a fully trained police officer who could provide reassurance and ask vital questions that could also lead to the offender being identified.
The burglary 'sole response' scheme has been pioneered by the Metropolitan Police in three quarters of London's boroughs and it will be rolled out across the capital from this year (2007).
But it is increasingly being adopted by forces across the country as a way of 'prioritising' calls from the public.
From next year, any householder in London who dials 999 to report a burglary will have to tell the operator that the suspect has 'just committed or in the act of committing' the crime for police to come out.
In all other cases, a civilian scenes of crime officer will be dispatched to check the break-in for evidence.
The Met argues that this is the most efficient way of collecting evidence and has improved clear up rates. Burglaries in the capital have fallen by four per cent to just over 61,000 over the last 12 months.
But Norman Brennan, of the Victims of Crime Trust, said: "Burglary is one of the most serious crimes. It is invasive and it devastates lives. We have to ask the question: who exactly pays the wages of the police? It is, of course, the law abiding tax payer who has a right to have a burglary investigated by a police officer."
Last year leaders of the Police Federation, which represents rank-and-file officers, warned that in some forces officers were taking 'several days' to respond to burglaries because they were too busy 'chasing targets' and there were not enough officers to deal with them.
Chairman Jan Berry said the number of officers available to respond instantly was falling. She said: "That is unacceptable because primarily we are an emergency response service."
In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said: "Where there is a suspect who has just committed a burglary, or is in the act of committing a burglary, police officers respond immediately to 999 calls.
"Nationally, as a way to professionalise burglary investigation, the burglary sole response scheme sends someone who is an expert in examining the crime scene, where the suspect is no longer at the scene, in order to recover forensic evidence.
"In the past, forensics experts would attend a lot later after an officer had attended. Since the introduction of the scheme we have seen increases in the detection of burglary offences. The main aim of the initiative is to provide the best evidential recovery by having forensic examiners at the scene as soon as possible.
"In addition, by deploying a crime scene examiner in the first instance it enables victims to tidy up and return to normality sooner."
Reader views (9)
Judging by the appearance of some police officers I have seen in London, I would think twice before inviting them into my home.
They look unkempt and untrustworthy.
And what can they do if they do arrive at your house after a burglary? Just write down the details and call the scene of crime people.
If you are scared of going into home, then call the police and tell them you think that the scum is still in your house. Then the police will attend. It is a simple as that.
- Peter Robinson, Kettering
You get back to your flat and find the front door jemmied. Are you really to be expected to go in to find out if there's a potentially violent criminal still inside, before the police will turn up? I write as someone who has surprised a burglar in my flat at 5am. Fortunately for me, he was "non-violent" and only shoved me out of the way to make a hasty exit to the street.
Like most things this Government does, this sounds reasonable at first hearing and is anything but when you think about it!
- Nigel, London
I guess we just shout 'is anybody there?' before phoning the police. Why not have an automated answering service 'Press 1 if in fear for your life, Press 2 if you are not sure, Press 3 for a Civil Servant to turn up (office hours only)'. I would rather have 1 bobby on the beat than a van load of civil servants, magnifying glasses and all.
- Dan, Manchester
Burglary is one of the most terrifying crimes to its victims. When one's home has been violated in this manner victims are left feeling exceptionally vulnerable. It is the job of the police to help the victims overcome their fears, not just to catch the criminal. It seems increasingly that the police and justice system are simply not interested unless a secure conviction is likely. It's all about crime solving statistics and nothing to do with public service these days.
- Jane, London UK
This sounds like fantastic news. What use is a Police Officer turning up to a crime scene after the criminals have already fled? A Scene of Crime investigator to come promptly and actually do something useful towards solving the crime, by checking for fingerprints etc, is surely exactly what you want to happen if you want your burglar caught!
- Jon R, London
I was burgled just after Christmas. I visted family over the period and came back to find my house "ransacked". My partner contacted the police straight away and in half an hour two police officers turned up. The next day a man came out to take finger prints etc... do anything he could. If those two officers hadn't turned up I would have felt totaly let down by my countrys system. They reassured us, helped us feel like it wasn't a personal attack, took statements which helped us realised what had happend. My opnion... carry on doing what your doing, your doing it right. If you take away officers from answering burglary calls, the effects are going to be much worse for the victim.
- Sarah, Coventry
The answer is simple. Let the drunks rot in their own vomit and let the police take care of crime. Burglary is one of the worst type of crimes and burglars should be punished severely.
- Fred, Dubai
Quite right it will give them more time to have the second cup of tea
- Michael Williams, bridgend
What is the point of having a police officer being taken away from actual pursuit and apprehension of wrong-doers just so that they can ask questions that could be posed by anyone trained to do so? Will it make the answers any different? Is it reassurance - uniformed hand holding while they grieve for their losses that the victims want? Is that what they see as the police officer's job? Those same people would soon complain, I'd suggest, if THEY had to wait due to someone else holding up an appropriate PC response.
- Rogan M., DFW TX USA
