Police Fail To investigate Crime

Last financial year 40% of crime reports in Devon and Cornwall were not investigated. That is 36,575 crimes not investigated after an initial assessment. The Police Federation claimed it showed that cuts were affecting policing and the force was failing crime victims. The Police Force said “all crimes get an appropriate level of investigation”. Det Ch Supt Middleton said. "Many crimes are detected on the first point of contact - for example when a crime is dealt with by way of a penalty notice issued to the offender, and do not need a detailed secondary investigation. This would also include, for example, a person caught in possession of drugs for personal use or certain types of shoplifting offences."