MORE criminals are going unpunished across Fenland says MP Malcolm Moss, with three in four muggers escaping justice. The MP for North East Cambridgeshire is concerned at new local crime statistics and has called for a series of police reforms to improve

MORE criminals are going unpunished across Fenland says MP Malcolm Moss, with three in four muggers escaping justice.

The MP for North East Cambridgeshire is concerned at new local crime statistics and has called for a series of police reforms to improve the effectiveness of policing and the criminal justice system.

Figures show that in the past year in Cambridgeshire Police's Central Division (March, Wisbech and Huntingdon), robbery has risen 20 per cent, burglary by 15 per cent and sexual offences by 23 per cent.

Mr Moss said: "The figures show that more criminals are going unpunished across Fenland.

The detection rate for robbery has fallen across Fenland in the last year so that three in four muggers are now escaping justice.

"After the shambles of a thousand foreign prisoners being released on to our streets instead of being deported and the complete U-turn over police mergers, we now see that fewer criminals are being punished for their crimes. More muggers, thieves and robbers are getting away scot-free with their actions, and their victims are not seeing proper justice."

Conservatives are calling for a series of changes, including greater police accountability, less red tape and paperwork, plus reforms of police pay, conditions and working practices.

Mr Moss added: "The police officers in Cambridgeshire are generally working hard, but are being held back by Whitehall red tape that prevents them patrolling the streets and catching criminals. This is why Conservatives want to see a stronger emphasis on neighbourhood policing and a greater say for local people on how police forces are run.