New analysis commissioned by the Liberal Democrats has revealed that 991 bike theft cases in Surrey were closed in 2022 without a suspect being identified - a shocking 91.9% of total reported cases.

Meanwhile, only nine bike thefts reported in Surrey last year resulted in a suspect being charged or summonsed - just 0.8% of the total 1098 cases recorded.

Epsom and Ewell Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate and former Royal Military Police officer Helen Maguire warned these figures showed the Government was effectively ‘decriminalising’ bike theft, letting criminals off the hook for the robbery of thousands of pounds worth of property. So, she is calling for a return to proper community policing, where officers are visible and trusted and given time to focus on tackling local crime.

Helen said, “The number of PCSOs has fallen in Surrey to just 69 by the end of March - down from 136 PCSOs just over a year ago in February 2022. It’s worse in Epsom and Ewell where we should have eight and now have half of that number.

“Theft is such a personal and terrible crime. To see so many go unsolved in Surrey is a poor reflection on this government’s record of reducing crime. We need to see a return to proper community policing, making our streets safer and ending this free-for-all for criminals.”

The Liberal Democrats have accused the Conservative Government of neglecting neighbourhood policing. Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) numbers have also plummeted under the Conservative Party’s watch, with over 4,000 PCSOs being taken off the streets since 2015.