Metropolitan Police 'ignore 45% of London crimes'

Up to 45% of all crimes in London are "ignored" by police, Conservatives on the London Assembly have claimed.

Police data for 2012-13 shows that 76% of motor vehicle thefts, 40% of residential burglaries and 23% of robberies were "screened out".

Tory London Assembly Member Roger Evans said not probing minor crimes robustly was sending a "dangerous message".

The Met said it investigated every allegation of crime and conducted secondary probes in 60% of cases.

Figures from the force show that about 45% of cases - 346,397 incidents - did not lead to follow-up investigations.

'No interest'

The cases which were "screened out" include 16,820 (76%) reports of car thefts, 16,748 (80%) of bike thefts, about 24,339 (40%) burglaries in residential properties and more than 7,570 (23%) reports of robbery of personal property.

Mr Evans, the police and crime spokesman for Greater London Authority Conservatives, said: "A victim of crime shouldn't feel that the police have no interest in them unless you are physically or sexually assaulted.

"Moreover, many criminals' illegal activities escalate each time they get away with it so we are sending out a very dangerous message."

A statement from the Met Police said: "The MPS investigates every single allegation of crime that it receives.

"A number of crime allegations will require secondary investigation once the initial investigation is complete.

"The MPS currently conducts secondary investigations in approximately 60% of all crime allegations, as compared to the national average of 45%."

The force said it was improving the "quality and rigour of initial investigations in order to improve the service to victims by reducing the need for follow up visits".