Over a third of London crime may go unreported

2.24.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 28th Apr 2004

Over 38% of people who took part in a Liberal Democrat poll who said they had experienced or witnessed a crime in the last year did not report the crime to the police - and over half of those said they did not do so because they did not think the police would act or because they could not get hold of the police.

This significant level of unreported crime has been uncovered by a snapshot survey conducted by Metropolitan Police Authority member Lynne Featherstone and presented to the MPA.

Lynne Featherstone commented: "This survey of Haringey residents is a small yet significant snapshot of the extent of non-reporting of crime in London. If these results are replicated across London, over a third of the capital's crime may go unreported."

She added: "This issue must be tackled. We have to know the true level of crime in London.

"The survey also shows an alarming lack of trust and confidence in the police. Too many Londoners think 'there's no point contacting the police because they won't do anything about it'."

Ms Featherstone is calling on the Metropolitan Police Service to take steps to address the low level of public confidence in their accessibility, response to calls for help and the quality of service they provide in response.

ENDS

Notes to editor:

1. There were 2093 respondents to the survey

2. The survey asked the following questions about crime and police response:

Have you been the victim of or witnessed a crime in the last year?

Yes: 1119

No: 1101

NA: 56

If yes, did you report it to the police?

Yes: 659

No: 421

NA: 39

Why not:

Someone else did 93

Didn't know how to 10

Would have taken too long 46

Crime wasn't important enough 133

Couldn't get hold of police 15

Didn't think police would act 200

Reported it to someone else 14

Other 28

If you did report it, were you satisfied with the speed of the police's response

Yes 350

No 224

If you did report it, were you satisfied with the work the police did to follow up the report

Yes 240

No 324