MORE than half a million crimes spanning three years remain unsolved, research by the Labour Party has revealed in a damning indictment of cuts to police funding.

The investigations were closed without a suspect being identified, according to an analysis published last night of Home Office crime outcome data — not including fraud cases.

The number of crimes deemed unsolvable between 2014-15 and 2016-17 shows that the government cannot do security “on the cheap,” said shadow policing minister Louise Haigh.

Almost half of all crimes now go unsolved, with the detection rate falling from 58 per cent in 2015 to 51 per cent last year, the analysis also shows.

On Monday, leaked Home Office research papers exposed the link between Tory police cuts and the current rise in serious violent crime.

There are around 21,000 fewer police officers compared with 2010.

Since the beginning of this year, more than 50 people have been shot or stabbed to death in London, making the capital’s murder rate higher than New York’s for the first time in modern history.

Ms Haigh said: “The Tories claim the police have the resources they need, but these figures would suggest otherwise.

“You can’t do security on the cheap. By failing to properly invest in policing, this Conservative government is threatening community safety and letting down the victims of crime.” 

There is also a national shortfall of more than 5,000 investigators and detectives, the latest report from the independent policing watchdog shows.

This shortage represents a “national crisis”, according to Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services.

Almost half of the officers surveyed for the annual report, which was published last month, said their force was “not very effective” or “not at all effective” at investigations.