Chichester MP calls for action as fewer than 6% of Sussex burglaries result in charge or summons

Liberal Democrat analysis of Home Office figures suggests just 5.49% of burglaries recorded in Sussex during 2025 resulted in someone being charged or summonsed. Chichester MP Jess Brown-Fuller is calling for tougher guarantees for victims.

Chichester MP Jess Brown-Fuller is calling for urgent action on burglary after figures analysed by the Liberal Democrats suggested fewer than six per cent of cases recorded in Sussex last year resulted in someone being charged or summonsed.

The party says Home Office data shows 4,536 burglaries were recorded across Sussex during 2025, with 5.49% resulting in a charge or summons.

According to the analysis, 3,412 cases – 75.22% of the total – were closed without police identifying a suspect.

Nationally, the Liberal Democrats say 223,194 burglaries were reported across England and Wales during the period, with 13,936 – 6.24% – resulting in a charge.

They say no suspect was identified in 160,396 cases, representing just under 72%.

The figures have prompted Liberal Democrat Justice Spokesperson and Chichester MP Jess Brown-Fuller to call for additional neighbourhood policing resources and legislation requiring police to attend and investigate domestic burglaries.

Ms Brown-Fuller has criticised Prime Minister Andy Burnham's Government over its approach to crime and is calling for what the party describes as a ‘Burglary Response Guarantee’.

However, there is already a national policing commitment for officers to attend all home burglaries.

Home Office crime outcome statistics state that the National Police Chiefs’ Council commitment to attend all home burglaries has been in place since April 2023. Ms Brown-Fuller’s proposal would go further by seeking to place requirements around burglary attendance and investigation into legislation.

The Government is also continuing its Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee, which includes a commitment to add 13,000 police officers, PCSOs and special constables to neighbourhood policing roles across England and Wales by the end of the Parliament.

The programme includes dedicated neighbourhood teams, named and contactable local officers and increased visible patrols. Home Office figures published this year said the first-year target for growth in neighbourhood officers and PCSOs had already been surpassed by January 2026.

Sussex Police operates Operation Magpie as its dedicated response to burglary and carries out prevention work alongside efforts to identify and target offenders.

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”.

Sussex Police have been invited to respond.

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