Data obtained by The Telegraph has revealed that over 90% of burglaries on the Isle of Wight over the past 3 years remain unsolved, as Commissioner Donna Jones demands a ‘back to basics’ approach to policing.
Between May 2019 and April 2022, 783 burglaries were reported on the Island, of which 711 (90.8%) remain unsolved. The worst areas for unsolved burglaries are East Cowes & Osborne, Binstead & Wootton, Cowes West and Gurnard & Northwood. Of the 77 reported burglaries in these areas, none at all have resulted in a successful prosecution.
The best areas for solving burglaries are Niton, Shorwell & Godshill with a measly 16% success rate, followed by Cowes Central with a 12.5% success rate, then Newport East & Parkhurst East with 12.8% of burglaries solved.
In other reported crimes, 71.1% of 128 robberies on the Island over the past 3 years remain unsolved, as do 91.1% of bicycle thefts and 95.2% of personal thefts, such as pickpocketing. Of all the 126 personal thefts committed during the period in question, Police succeeded to find only 6 of the culprits.
A report from Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) today (Thursday) has stated that forces are missing opportunities to identify and catch offenders, from the moment a member of the public reports the crime to the point where a case is finalised.
Donna Jones, Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, has responded to the new report by saying:
“I agree there needs to be a back-to-basics approach to improve outcomes for victims of these crimes. I know from my contact with the public that they are not always getting the service they expect.
Article continues below this advertisement “Burglary and theft are not minor crimes. They make people feel unsafe. They have long-lasting impacts on people and risk having a knock-on effect in wider communities if they are not dealt with.
“Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) has made 2 recommendations to forces, which are underpinned by a back-to-basics approach in terms of carrying out thorough investigations which I fully support.
“The review also rightly mentions the police’s responsibility for managing offenders in the community and reducing reoffending rates by those who have previously committed these types of crimes. The report specifically highlights a positive scheme being used in Hampshire, which uses electronic monitoring for offenders released on licence who have served sentences of 12 months or more for robbery, burglary or vehicle crime.
“In addition, the review cites the work of my office which has funded support workers to work with ex-offenders to help them break their cycle of offending. I am pleased Hampshire has been recognised in the report for these crime reduction initiatives. However more needs to be done. Part of my police and crime plan outlines how I am making sure the Constabulary are identifying opportunities to roll out ‘days of action’ to apprehend prolific offenders, keep victims of burglary and theft updated, and ensure all domestic burglaries are thoroughly investigated.”
Disgusting results, years ago we were burgled. Police came but not very interested, just a token effort, also had two garden burglaries, and the same token effort. We didn’t hear anything for a few years, the purely by chance I spoke to a police sergeant on another matter, mentioned it to him, and he promised to look into it. Which he did and told me that someone had owned up to it when arrested for another one. No idea whether they took him to court for it. Crimes against property are low priority, and get a poor response, and the thieves know it.
Even when they do get prosecuted naive middle class judges just send career crooks on thinking courses. The whole criminal justice system needs to think again. Or how about sending the crooks to live with Lady Bottomley?
All we seem to do is contribute more and receive less.
Solve your own burglary, just dont get caught, or it will be you in trouble, about the only thing these people would pursue!
You can quite understand why vigilante groups start up. I recall a local shop that kept getting attacked over 30 years ago now, and when the owner found out who it was a group of “strong friends” sorted them out. Never had an issue after that and the offenders were basically moved out of the area – alive I might add just in case someone see’s more into this than there is.
Agree totally. Magistrates and the whole system is way too soft. Give these burglars what they so rightly deserve!!!!!
Donna says back to basics
I say back to old school
Police not needed
Understandable under the circumstances but not the preferred option. We are paying the police, CPS, judiciary and prison service to do this for us, why have a dog and bark yourself?
Because the dog we have isn’t barking.
At best a mute poodle.
Our contribution to funding the police rises year on year but the ‘service’ gets worse and worse.
Where is the money going. Certainly not where the public want to see it.
Too many police attending the most minor incidents in groups of 6 or 8
Unfortunately we have to look after ourselves as the police are no longer there to help.
While the corrupt Isle of Wight Council hold the Police by the short and curlies, and threatening to cut the precept they will get next year if they investigate anything the council don’t want investigating ( The Gaiety Fire in Ventnor ) I’m afraid nothing will ever get sorted out.
Exactly,you either get no response or its over the top to avoid them having to deal with something else. About time Insurance companies took Police Forces to Court for not doing what we pay them for and the Court’s for not appropriate punishment. Nice to tell us that we have better chance winning a Loto prize than getting caught for burglary. Most are committed by drugged up low life. If we all paid extra £5 on insurance it could pay to lock them up,once out of way crime would go down and premiums reduce win win for honest good people.
What do you expect with Jones in charge, sound bites and business speak don’t count for anything, put the police call centre back on the island so the person on the phone at least knows how to spell the island towns names and roughly where they are. The island should have it’s own budget and not be lumped in with Hampshire. Ridiculous.
If the island had its own budget the council would rob it and get away with it
So right, since going over Hampshire it’s got worse, can’t get hold of Police on phone 101 is a joke, they have not a clue either when get through, could respond and deal with in time it takes to give them your details. And they don’t talk to each other,have different recording areas,last two officers that have come to my home were from mainland and had no clue about where they even be were.
“Back to Basics”: Police visiting victim’s home, checking for fingerprints, DNA. Checking Ebay etc for stolen goods, putting pressure on Island fences, stopping known suspects if they are out at night.
The Island policeman is going to be a very busy chap – especially with the paperwork required to get “back to basics”
Empty words, Donna Jones
And yet Hampshires Finest have the time to make three visits and send seven officers to a war veteran when all he did was reTweet the Multi-Alphabet flag that had been rearranged by Lawrence Fox asking why it was deemd offensive. That time it allegedly triggered some snowflake lefty into ‘anxiety’. Never mind any anxiety caused through burglaries then!!!
High profile case, the police swarm to, even murders they take their time in getting there and then never find the perpetrator even though they have been given the name of offender by several people. They are a joke.
Not shocking at all just what I expected keep up the good work police
Wrong Headline, Should read 90% of burglaries on the Island are Not Investigated!!
Back to basics = taking it seriously. Couldn’t make it up.
What can you expect from a police commissioner who’s evidently out of her depth and a background of city banking and Portsmouth City Counciller? Sure she’s adept at balancing the books and budgeting but do we really need bureaucrats running the police?
Let’s be fair everyone, the police are probably spending so much time fetching our crime commissioner more cake that they don’t have the time to investigate crime.
Its hard for the Police, they do a lot of great work the public never get to hear about. The problem is that most people only come in to contact with the Police for things like speeding, burglaries and anti social behaviour. This is, unfortunately where the Police let themselves down!, With speeding people most feel persecuted, sometimes an old fashioned warning would be better than draconian fines. Yes there is an hard core of nutters who drive too fast on the Island, but why should normal motorists who have strayed over the limit by small amounts suffer too? They won’t stop noisy parties & if your home get burgled, well?
True ! We have idiot chavs with noisy modified cars racing past our house, all I can think of is my beloved kitten that got run over by some idiot, it seems to be lawless now as far as these ridiculous looking cars, full of brainless plebs.
If you think loud exhausts is the biggest crime going you are a very lucky person.
Hardly surprising given that it is almost impossible to actually report a crime, if you are honoured enough to speak to someone in their control centre you find they are utterly uninterested and rarely does anything get done, in the very rare occasions they do take someone to court the even more useless magistrates hand out pathetic and pointless sentences.
Seeing and hearing some of our police it would seem that the island is he dumping round for the unintelligent, lazy and incompetent officers who are unemployable in any other force
it’s too much hard work for the police but if your speeding or drug driving you will get 2-3 cars out
But, on a more positive note, she did reprimand Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police for arresting a man after he retweeted something and one person claimed it had ’caused anxiety’.
Perhaps we should bring in an updated neighbour watch scheme. These figures are terrible
but how many of these crimes could have prevented by better security by the public.
How many vans have we seen left with valuable equipment in the back or how many times
have we seen valuables left in the back of cars to start with.
How many residents leave their keys hidden outside i know at least three of my neighbours do.
In my experience the burglars were identified & caught but the bone-idle CPS couldn’t be bothered to prosecute.
Not just here countrywide – sure sign our Police force is not doing what we as tax payers pay for every year at an extortionate rate for a basically invisible service. The police only seem to be interested in certain areas of policing, keeping the streets and our homes safe doesn’t seem to be one of them. I think the “bug” infecting the police force in London is spreading country wide.
The scummy Crims are having a laugh knowing full well the Police are not investigating. This is so wrong. Needs to be sorted ASAP.
you are pathetic
PCC, will be working on her excuses, for next year’s tax increase.. Maybe aim for 95% failure next year.
Given the police’s disgusting record the council should when jones presents her new precept demand refuse to allow it until they can prove a massive improvement, but then we are dealing with the clowns in our council who don’t have the spine to do this.
How can they investigate burglaries when they are so busy investigating hurt feelings and anxiety “offences” on social media.