Sign in Subscribe
Sexual abuse

Crime Figures in England and Wales Reach Record Highs, except for Homicides

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The latest crime statistics for England and Wales reveal record-breaking numbers of shoplifting and theft from the person, while homicides have decreased to the lowest level in over a decade. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has published the data, showing a significant increase in police-recorded crimes, including a 20% rise in shoplifting offenses and a 15% increase in theft from the person.

Key Takeaways:

  • Shoplifting offenses reached a record high of 530,643 in 2024/25, up 20% from 444,022 in 2023/24 and the highest total since current police recording practices began in 2002/03.
  • Theft from the person also remained at record levels, with 151,220 offenses recorded in 2024/25, a 15% increase from 131,584 in the previous year.
  • Knife crime offenses decreased slightly, down 1% from 53,685 in 2023/24 to 53,047 in 2024/25, but are still 4% lower than the pre-pandemic figure of 55,170 offenses in 2019/20.
  • Homicides reached the lowest level in over a decade, with 535 recorded in 2024/25, a 6% decrease from 567 in the previous year.
  • Domestic abuse, sexual assault, and stalking affected an estimated 5.1 million people aged 16 and over, with 10.6% experiencing at least one of these crime types in 2024/25, compared to 11.3% in 2023/24.
  • The ONS Crime Survey for England and Wales measured 9.4 million incidents of crime in the year to March 2025, a 4% higher than the previous 12 months.

Statistics:

  • There were 530,643 shoplifting offenses recorded in 2024/25, a 20% increase from 444,022 in 2023/24.
  • Theft from the person increased to 151,220 offenses in 2024/25, a 15% rise from 131,584 in the previous year.
  • Knife crime offenses decreased to 53,047 in 2024/25, down 1% from 53,685 in 2023/24.
  • Homicides reached 535 in 2024/25, a 6% decline from 567 in the previous year.
  • The estimated prevalence of domestic abuse, sexual assault, and stalking among those aged 16 and over in England and Wales is 10.6% in 2024/25, compared to 11.3% in 2023/24.
  • The ONS Crime Survey for England and Wales measured 9.4 million incidents of crime in the year to March 2025, a 4% rise from 9.0 million in the previous 12 months.

Sources:

  • Office for National Statistics (ONS)
  • PA news agency
  • The Office for National Statistics (ONS) Crime Survey for England and Wales

Read more