MORE than one sexual or violent crime is going unsolved in Bracknell and Binfield every day, the News can reveal.

Figures from Thames Valley Police show hundreds of crimes including rape, sexual assault and ABH remain unsolved. 

In February, there was a startling five sexual or violent offences committed in and around the Skimped Hill Health Centre, though none of these saw anyone charged, arrested, or cautioned.

Again in March, there were another five incidents reported to police without any resolution.

The statistics come to light after a report by the police inspectorate showed forces across the UK will have £700m less a year by 2021 than in 2017.

While the budget declines, officer numbers will fall by just under 3,000 by 2020/21.

Between January and July 2017 there were 260 violent or sexual offences reported to police that went unsolved. As an average worked out over the course of the year, this is more than one offence every day.

This number doesn’t include any of the crimes still under investigation, neither does it take into account any offences reported that have no further information related to them.

The crimes that can fall into the category of violence and sexual offences include GBH, ABH, and sexual assault/rape.

In some of these cases, someone has been accused of the crime, before going to court and being found not guilty.

In two of these cases, the court case broke down and was unable to reach a verdict, however the stats do not show what the individual offences were for.

In March, there were two offences reported to police at Larges Lane, home of Bracknell Town FC, although neither of these were resolved.

In February, there was a startling five offences committed in and around the Skimped Hill Health Centre, though none of these saw anyone charged, arrested, or cautioned.

Again, in March, there were another five incidents reported in the same area of town to police without any resolution.

The breakdown is as follows of unsolved offences per month: January - 35 February - 32 March - 54 April - 43 May - 36 June - 31 July - 29 Phillip Lee and the police federation have been contacted for comment.

Thames Valley Police issued the following statement in response to the figures: “As part of the Victim’s Code, Thames Valley Police have a commitment to every victim. We establish the information that the victim needs or wants and we commit to delivering against that.”

Thames Valley Police issued the following statement: “There are many reasons why a case would remain open. In some cases it is not possible or appropriate for the force to prosecute people. This can be for a number of reasons, including evidential difficulties, other agencies dealing with the incidents, and further action not being in the public interest.

“As part of the Victim’s Code, Thames Valley Police has a commitment to every victim. We establish the information that the victim needs or wants and we commit to delivering against that.

“The numbers of crimes reported will vary area to area. We have been actively encouraging people to report sexual assaults and an increase in the number of crime reports may indicate a positive reflection of an increasing confidence of victims, who are coming forward to report offences, many of which are non-recent.”

Police forces across the UK will have £700m less a year by 2021 than in 2017, according to the police inspectorate. While the budget declines, officer numbers will fall, by just under 3,000 to 120,217 by 2020/21, with police staff numbers falling too, an overall further cut in the workforce of 2 per cent.

Results of a Thames Valley Police Federation survey last year showed detectives believe morale had fallen due to budget cuts and reduction in police numbers - and that this would impact on the service they can give the public. Sixty per cent of respondents said cuts had a ‘major impact’ on their work.

The Police Federation and MP Phillip Lee were unable to respond to a request for comment by the time the News went to press.