In addition to the staggering 80,000 unrecorded crimes, Greater Manchester Police have failed to report figures on unsolved crimes to the Home Office since July 2019.

Nearly a million crimes have gone unsolved across the country in the last five years – that 80,000 unrecorded crimes alone would take the figure well past a million.

Local Liberal Democrat Councillor Sam Al-Hamdani said: “We have just seen Andy Burnham returned as Greater Manchester Mayor, taking on the role of Police and Crime Commissioner, despite the police being placed into special measures on his watch.

“If we do not see a complete change in what is happening in Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham should not see out his term. It is residents across our Borough who are suffering as a consequence of these failures.

“Local police are not getting the support they need. That has happened for two reasons – unnecessary Tory cuts which have savaged the number of detectives, and failings in the senior management of Greater Manchester Police, which has resulted in the resignation of the Chief Constable; even though Mayor Andy Burnham has remained in place.

Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: “Having suffered the distress and trauma of being burgled, hundreds of thousands of victims are left without the closure they need and the justice they deserve.

“This Conservative Government is letting down victims and allowing far too many criminals to get away with it. Liberal Democrats will do what works to build communities where people are safe and feel safe too.”

Councillor Al-Hamdani added: “Oldham Police need the officers, resources and time to focus on preventing and solving crimes. A return to proper community policing, where officers are visible, trusted and known personally to local people, would go a long way. That needs the Government to change course, and get new detectives in place, and it needs the Labour administration in Greater Manchester to deliver what it has failed to do in Andy Burnham’s first term.”