Crime statistics: latest evidence and sources
Latest official release
Crime needs two different lenses, not one synthetic total.
The Crime Survey estimates experiences that may never be reported to police. Police records are more useful for some lower-volume, higher-harm offences. public-data.org now shows those sources separately and labels court timeliness as a third, different system measure.
Crime in England and Wales: year ending March 2026 · released 23 July 2026 · next scheduled ONS release 22 October 2026.
Crime Survey for England and Wales
Crime experienced by households and individuals
9.6 million CSEW headline crime incidents were estimated in the latest survey, with no statistically significant annual change.
| Measure | Latest figure | Change and context |
|---|---|---|
| Headline crime | 9.6 millionestimated incidents | No statistically significant change from the previous survey |
| Theft | 2.6 millionestimated incidents | No statistically significant change from the previous survey |
| Other household theft | 791,000estimated incidents | 21% higher than the previous survey |
| Fraud | 4.5 millionestimated incidents | No statistically significant change from the previous survey |
| Computer misuse | 798,000estimated incidents | No statistically significant change from the previous survey |
| Violence with or without injury | 989,000estimated incidents | No statistically significant change from the previous survey |
| Criminal damage | 646,000estimated incidents | No statistically significant change from the previous survey |
Why it matters
9.6 million CSEW headline crime incidents were estimated in the latest survey, with no statistically significant annual change.
Explain this number
Definition
The CSEW is the preferred measure for long-term trends in common crimes. Estimates cover people aged 16 and over, exclude some populations and are subject to sampling uncertainty.
Unit and geography
Each row uses its own labelled unit · England and Wales
How to interpret it
Read this module independently. Figures from other crime and justice systems are not added to it.
Important caveat
The CSEW is the preferred measure for long-term trends in common crimes. Estimates cover people aged 16 and over, exclude some populations and are subject to sampling uncertainty.
Source and date
Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) · Released 23 July 2026 · Year ending March 2026
Home Office police records
Crimes recorded by the police
Police recorded around 5.2 million crimes excluding fraud and computer misuse, 1% fewer than the previous year.
| Measure | Latest figure | Change and context |
|---|---|---|
| Recorded crime excluding fraud and computer misuse | 5.2 millionrecorded offences | 1% lower than the previous year |
| Homicide | 499recorded offences | 7% lower than the previous year · 8.1 per million people |
| Knife or sharp instrument offences | 48,774recorded offences | 8% lower than the previous year |
| Firearms offences | 5,151recorded offences | 8% lower than the previous year |
| Robbery of personal property | 57,693recorded offences | 9% lower than the previous year |
| Shoplifting | 507,086recorded offences | 4% lower than the previous year |
Why it matters
Police recorded around 5.2 million crimes excluding fraud and computer misuse, 1% fewer than the previous year.
Explain this number
Definition
Police-recorded crime is not the preferred measure for general crime trends because reporting, recording practices and police activity change. It is more useful for lower-volume, higher-harm offences. Recorded fraud and computer misuse are excluded while the new Report Fraud system is being introduced.
Unit and geography
Each row uses its own labelled unit · England and Wales
How to interpret it
Read this module independently. Figures from other crime and justice systems are not added to it.
Important caveat
Police-recorded crime is not the preferred measure for general crime trends because reporting, recording practices and police activity change. It is more useful for lower-volume, higher-harm offences. Recorded fraud and computer misuse are excluded while the new Report Fraud system is being introduced.
Source and date
Home Office police recorded crime, published by ONS · Published by ONS on 23 July 2026 · Year ending March 2026
Ministry of Justice
Criminal court timeliness
Median completion times increased in both magistrates’ courts and the Crown Court compared with the same quarter a year earlier.
| Measure | Latest figure | Change and context |
|---|---|---|
| Magistrates’ courts: charge to completion | 52 daysmedian days | Up from 39 days a year earlier |
| Crown Court: charge to completion | 183 daysmedian days | Up from 180 days a year earlier |
| Crown Court: offence to completion | 346 daysmedian days | Up from 326 days a year earlier |
Why it matters
Median completion times increased in both magistrates’ courts and the Crown Court compared with the same quarter a year earlier.
Explain this number
Definition
Court timeliness measures completed defendant cases and is backwards-looking. It must not be presented as a crime rate or combined with victimisation and recorded-offence totals.
Unit and geography
Each row uses its own labelled unit · England and Wales
How to interpret it
Read this module independently. Figures from other crime and justice systems are not added to it.
Important caveat
Court timeliness measures completed defendant cases and is backwards-looking. It must not be presented as a crime rate or combined with victimisation and recorded-offence totals.
Source and date
Ministry of Justice Criminal court statistics quarterly · Released 25 June 2026 · January to March 2026
Not yet published
Regional comparisons
No regional ranking is published until one versioned Police Force Area table is joined to official geography and population inputs with reproducible rate calculations.
Evidence boundary
No victimisation estimate, recorded-offence count or court-duration figure is added to another. The page contains no inferred “total crime” and no regional ranking carried over from the retired seed.