Burglary “hot-spot” in Shepherds Bush and Fulham

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Burglary is seen as "risk free" activity, shows Home Office report

With 12 out of 13 burglars in Hammersmith & Fulham never getting caught, local Conservative Parliamentary Spokesman, Cllr Greg Hands expressed grave concern this week at a new report from the Government which admits that burglars now regard robbing people’s homes as a ‘virtually risk free’ activity.

The report comes at a time when Metropolitan Police figures reveal the western end of Fulham Road (around Fulham Road and Fulham High Street, in Town Ward, which Greg represents) to be a burglary hotspot, with 38 offences committed in the 12 weeks running up to 20 October 2004. Roads either side of the Shepherds Bush Road, directly south of Shepherds Bush Green in Addison Ward are also revealed as a burglary hotspot, with 32 offences in the same period.

The report, compiled by the Home Office, investigated the attitudes of convicted house burglars. Even amongst those who have been caught:
· Only 10 per cent of burglars think there is a ‘high likelihood’ of being caught during a burglary or while in possession of stolen property.
· Almost two-thirds of burglars returned to a property they had previously burgled.
· “Few considered it to be risk at any stage… Residential burglary… was regarded as virtually risk free. The threat of detection during the course of a burglary or after disposal of goods was considered an insufficient deterrent”.
· Burglars’ main motivation for committing their crimes was the need to fund drug use.
· The most effective way of deterring burglars was targeted and repeated police enforcement activity.

Greg remarked: “Tony Blair promised to be ‘tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime’. All talk. This report exposes the fact that under this Government, crime is out of control and sentences are too lenient.

“We already knew that the clear-up rate of burglary in Hammersmith & Fulham was just 8%, meaning 12 out of 13 burglars are never brought to justice. No wonder that burglars now regard breaking into people’s homes as ‘risk free’.”

This research backs up Conservatives’ Timetable for Action to fight crime:
· Tougher sentences – such as abolishing Labour’s early release scheme, so burglars serve their full sentence and do not dismiss the threat of prison.
· Cutting political correctness and police paperwork, getting police out onto the beat, and funding 8,539 more police officers for London.
· 20,000 extra drug rehabilitation places to reduce the hard drug use that fuels crime.

Greg added: “It is time we ensured burglars faced the consequences of their crimes. Labour are all talk and the Liberal Democrats don’t believe in jailing burglars. Only Conservatives will restore respect, discipline and decent values in our society.” 

 

November 14, 2004