A staggering 1.9 million violent or sexual crimes were closed without a suspect in the year up until June 2024, the Guardian reports.
Regional differences across England and Wales are stark with urban areas facing worse outcomes. The West Midlands only solved 6.9% with Manchester faring similarly at 7%.
611 neighbourhoods solved fewer than 10 violent and sexual crimes., with 9 neighbourhoods solving none. Many of these cases are being closed after victims lose trust in the process.
This report comes 5 months after police declared violence against women and girls constituted a national emergency. England and Wales have faced upwards of 3000 cases a day.
60% of rape cases are closed before prosecution, this is up from 43% nine years earlier. On average a rape investigation takes 423 days to produce a charge or summons.
Jess Phillips, the minister for safeguarding and violence against women and girls, told the Guardian: “It is completely unacceptable that fewer and fewer violent and sexual crimes are being solved, with more victims being let down time and time again.
“The severity of these numbers prove why violence against women and girls is a national emergency and that is why we have set out our unprecedented mission to halve it in a decade.”
In 2023, operation Soteria was rolled out to 43 police forces in a bid to change the way police investigate rape and serious sexual offences in England and Wales. It disseminated education to police and works closely with sexual violence stakeholders.
With the regional disparities present, it leaves one wondering when those neighbourhoods that need it most will be protected.
