New research shows that police are solving less crime since Boris became Mayor and that Tower Hamlets is well below the UK average for solved crime. In Tower Hamlets 25% were solved in 2012/13 compared to the UK average of 27%. This amounts to 21,791 unsolved crimes in Tower Hamlets last year.
The police are also solving less crime compared to 2008/09 when Boris became Mayor. In Tower Hamlets 28% were solved whereas this year it was down to 25%.
These revelations come at a time when fewer crimes are being reported to the police and when Tower Hamlets has lost 129 police officers and 66 PCSOs since May 2010.
Local Labour London Assembly Member John Biggs said:
“It is shocking that the number of unsolved crimes in Tower Hamlets is up to 75%. Boris talks big about reported crime going down, but so far he has ignored that the number of crimes actually solved on his watch has plummeted. Compared to the average in England and Wales, London is trailing on the number of crimes solved where we should be setting the gold standard.
“Since May 2010, in Tower Hamlets the number of PCs has been reduced by 16% and PCSOs by a startling 53%. Boris talks about getting more bobbies on the beat but the figures clearly show this is not happening.
“This proves Boris can’t have his cake and eat it. If you cut the police budget by as much as the Government has then there will be repercussions. Victim satisfaction in London is lower than elsewhere in the UK and this is not acceptable. The Mayor must act now.”