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89% of 2024 sexual offences in England went unsolve

Exclusive: About 89% of such crimes closed without a suspect being caught or charged in the year to June 2024

Fewer than one in 10 cases were resolved in 611 neighbourhoods with the highest levels of these offences, according to a Guardian analysis, as growing numbers of victims withdraw from investigations after losing faith in securing justice. There were stark differences in the proportion of violent and sexual crimes going unsolved across the country, with big urban forces faring far worse than those parts of England and Wales with fewer offences. Yvette Cooper, the home secretary, has promised to end a “postcode lottery” of policing, and in November announced a new body that would coordinate specialist functions such as forensics, IT and the use of drones and helicopters.

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