New crime data for Wells covering the last three years (September 2021 to July 2024) has revealed that over 25% of reported cases have resulted in no prosecution.

Out of 2,776 crimes in this period, 711 cases (25.6%) saw suspects unable to be prosecuted, with legal hurdles such as insufficient evidence or uncooperative witnesses cited as potential reasons.

Adding to this, a significant 40.4% of cases (1,121) are marked as "status update unavailable," leaving the public without clarity on the progress of these investigations or their outcomes.

Ongoing investigations and court outcomes

While some cases are still working their way through the system, only 177 (6.4%) are still under investigation. A further 81 cases (2.9%) have "court results unavailable," while 19 cases (0.7%) are awaiting court outcomes. These figures suggest that while a small proportion of crimes progress towards a potential resolution, the majority are either stalled or unresolved.

Local resolution was used in 103 cases (3.7%), and only 32 cases (1.2%) resulted in offenders being given cautions.

Other outcomes, such as "no further action in the public interest" (45 cases, 1.6%) and "further investigation not in the public interest" (51 cases, 1.8%), highlight the complexities of the legal process, where some cases are dropped based on broader considerations.

What kinds of crimes are being committed in Wells?

The data also provides insight into the types of crimes being committed in the city. Over the three years, violence and sexual offences top the list, accounting for 36% of all reported crimes, with 999 incidents.

Other significant categories include anti-social behaviour, with 361 cases (13%), and public order offences, with 307 cases (11.1%). Shoplifting also remains a frequent issue, with 306 incidents recorded (11%).

Criminal damage and arson make up 9.4% of the total crimes, with 261 incidents, while other theft also accounts for 9.4% of crimes, with 261 cases. Vehicle crime and burglary have smaller numbers, with 93 (3.4%) and 73 (2.6%) cases respectively.

Less common crimes include robbery (21 cases), possession of weapons (13 cases), and theft from the person (13 cases), each representing less than 1% of total crimes. Drug offences and bicycle theft also remained low, with 17 and 14 cases respectively.

Challenges for law enforcement in Wells

A police spokesperson commented on the challenges highlighted by the data: "We recognise that a significant number of cases in Wells have not resulted in prosecution, and we understand the frustration this can cause in the community. Our officers work tirelessly to investigate and resolve crimes, but in some cases, we are faced with legal and evidential barriers that prevent further action. We remain committed to improving outcomes for victims and ensuring that offenders are held accountable wherever possible. We encourage the public to continue reporting incidents and working with us to keep Wells safe."