Families and businesses in Chichester left to ‘fend for themselves’ as only 5% of burglary cases in Sussex result in a charge

In Sussex, a total of 4536 burglaries were recorded, according to crime figures from 2025 analysed by the Liberal Democrats.

However, just 5.49% of cases resulted in a charge, with 75% of cases closing without the police identifying a suspect.

Jess Brown-Fuller, Lib Dem Justice Spokesperson and Member of Parliament for Chichester, has slammed the Government’s handling of crime as “asleep at the wheel”, and has called for emergency legislation to legally bind police forces to attend every single burglary.

New figures from 2025, show that of the 223,194 burglaries reported in England and Wales, just 13,936 (6.24%) resulted in someone being charged, whilst in a shocking 160,396 (71.86%) cases police failed to even identify a suspect. In Sussex, those figures are 5.49% charge/ summons rate, and 3412 (75.22%) of cases where the police fail to identify a suspect.

Home Office data analysed by the Liberal Democrats, have found that 94.51% of the 4536 burglary cases reported in Sussex result in the criminal getting away scot free. Local Lib Dem MP Jess Brown-Fuller is demanding an urgent restoration of neighbourhood police funding and has slammed the Government’s handling of the situation as “asleep at the wheel”, calling out Andy Burnham for failing to commit to tackling crime since taking office.

Liberal Democrats have urged Ministers to get a grip on crime and bring forward emergency legislation to ensure that all domestic burglaries are attended by the police and properly investigated. Currently, the vast majority of burglars are getting away scot free.

Jess has urged the Prime Minister to bring in a ‘Burglary Response Guarantee’, to reassure families across Chichester that burglaries will be investigated, and that the criminals involved will be brought to justice. 

Jess Brown-Fuller said:

“It is unacceptable that families and businesses across Chichester are being failed as the vast majority of burglaries go unsolved. The Government has been asleep at the wheel, a persistent lack of support for community policing has left our streets vulnerable.

“In 19 out of 20 burglary cases, the victims never see someone charged - that has to change. Sussex police works tirelessly but they require the proper resources and mandate from central government to ensure every single case is rigorously investigated.

“That’s why I’m demanding urgent action from the Prime Minister, to restore neighbourhood policing and back our calls for an investigation guarantee for all burglaries in Chichester”