Police burglary response times in Cambridgeshire have almost quadrupled since 2020-21.
Figures obtained via Freedom of Information requests to Cambridgeshire Constabulary show response times have grown from an average of four hours, 28 minutes and 41 seconds to 15 hours, nine minutes and 15 seconds.
The time taken for burglary callouts increased by 238% between 2021-22 and 2022-23, according to the most recent results available.
Alex Mayes, external affairs manager at the charity Victim Support said: “The impact of a burglary goes beyond just the financial losses – although these can also be devastating. Home should be the place where we feel most safe.
“A burglary is an invasion of that space and can deeply unsettle people’s sense of security. For some, it could mean the loss of treasured belongings and memories that can never be replaced.
“That is why the government must ensure the police are resourced to deal with burglary. If not, public trust will continue to fall, and victims will continue to be failed.”
Daryl Preston made neighbourhood crimes such as household burglary a key focal point of his campaign during last weeks' police and crime commissioner elections.
When elected as Police and Crime Commissioner in May 2021, he introduced a six point plan which as well as investing in local policing, aimed to target neighbourhood crime.
In 2021-22, when the UK was gripped by the Covid pandemic, average burglary response times for Cambridgeshire were 11 hours, two minutes and 24 seconds, with a 37 per cent year on year change.
A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire Constabulary said: “Burglary is a priority for the force and where possible we are committed to attending all residential burglary scenes.
“We have dedicated acquisitive crime teams in the north and south of the county, tasked with responding to burglaries and ensuring high standards of victim care are met alongside a real focus on securing evidence.
“It is important to note that there are many factors which determine the timescale for visiting burglary victims, and often there is little to be achieved from urgent attendance at the scene of a crime reported hours after it happened.
They added: “All calls are prioritised and graded according to threat, harm and risk, and often arrangements are made to visit at a time that best suits the victim.”
Average response times have also increased in Essex and Hertfordshire.
Essex Police recorded a 63 per cent surge in the average time taken to respond to a burglary callout between 2020-21 and 2022-23,
Meanwhile, Hertfordshire Constabulary’s average response time soared by 39 per cent.
Superintendent Tim Tubbs, Essex Police’s lead on burglary, said: “Burglary is an invasive crime which can have a significant impact on those affected and tackling it is a priority for us.
“In the last year there were 40 percent fewer home burglaries than five years ago, which equates to about 2,500 fewer break-ins.
“We prioritise burglary attendance and we’ve improved how many we’re going to, which has meant in March we went to 97 percent of all home break-ins reported in Essex.
He added: “Our response to any incident is based on the immediate threat and risk of harm posed to the public."
A spokesperson for Hertfordshire Constabulary added: “We recognise the impact that burglary has on victims, and we are committed to tackling it.
"All reports of dwelling burglary are attended by our officers, and we have recently aligned our burglary procedures with the updated guidance from the College of Policing.
“High visibility and plain-clothed patrols are conducted in hotspot areas to both deter and find criminals.”
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