Police ignore burglary reports at homes with odd numbers

Police have not been fully investigating attempted burglary reports at odd-numbered houses as part of a money-saving scheme.

The policy was trialled by officers in Leicestershire for a three-month period earlier this year and is now being considered in at least five other counties, The Times reports.

Although a police officer always responded to the reports, the scheme meant that forensic officers were only sent to collect physical evidence at houses with even numbers.

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However, crime scenes involving vulnerable victims were always properly investigate by both police and forensic officers and the scheme reportedly had no impact on crime rates or public satisfaction.

The results of the trial are now being evaluated and, if approved, the policy is set to be rolled out across Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Northamptonshire.

Jo Ashworth, director of forensic sciences with the unit, defended the trial, saying it was developed to look how effective forensic teams are in detecting and combating burglary.

"At a time when we are operating within reduced budgets, it is even more critical that we make the absolute best use of our crime scene investigators' time."

The force has been widely criticised for implementing the scheme, with Leicester South MP Jonathan Ashworth vowing to raise the matter with the Home Secretary.

Police and Crime Commissioner Sir Clive Loader told the BBC that he had not been informed of the trial. "Had I been consulted, I would have advised against it, particularly in light of the controls chosen which, to me at least, are unlikely to inspire much public confidence."

Olwen Edwards, from the Victim Support charity in Leicestershire, agreed, saying:"All victims of crime deserve their cases to be robustly investigated and to feel that police have made every effort to catch offenders and bring them to justice.

"This may not always involve collecting forensic evidence, but where this doesn't happen, the police should explain the reasons why."