Overall, crime in England and Wales was broadly flat in the year to March 2026. The Crime Survey for England and Wales estimated 9.6 million incidents, which is not a statistically significant change, and police recorded 5.2 million crimes, down 1%. Knife crime fell 8%, theft from the person fell 20%, and homicide fell to 499, the lowest since current recording began in 2003. Police-recorded sexual offences rose 4%.
Updated 26 September 2026 · Data: Office for National Statistics, year ending March 2026 (published 23 July 2026) · Covers England and Wales
The year in four numbers
Which crimes are rising and which are falling?
Most types of crime recorded by police fell in the year to March 2026. The biggest drop was theft from the person, down 20%. Vehicle offences fell 11%, burglary and robbery of personal property both fell 9%, and knife crime fell 8%. Sexual offences were the main exception, up 4%, which can partly reflect more victims coming forward.
Safety scorecard: what the trend means for you
Why are there two different crime figures?
The Crime Survey for England and Wales asks households about crimes they experienced, whether or not they reported them, so it captures crime the police never hear about. Police recorded crime counts offences reported to and recorded by the police. The survey is better for long-term trends in common crimes; police figures are better for rarer, serious crimes such as homicide and knife crime.
Does this include Scotland and Northern Ireland?
No. These ONS figures cover England and Wales only. Scotland and Northern Ireland record and publish crime separately, through the Scottish Government’s Recorded Crime in Scotland statistics and the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s recorded crime bulletins, and their figures are not directly comparable with England and Wales.
How do I check crime where I live?
National numbers don’t tell you about your street. Follow our guide to checking crime in your area, or get a 12-month summary for any postcode with the postcode crime checker on our sister site.
Frequently asked questions
For most people, most of the time, yes. Homicide in England and Wales is at its lowest level since 2003 and most crime types are falling. The most common crimes people face are fraud and theft, so everyday precautions matter more than fear of violence.
Sources
- ONS: Crime in England and Wales, year ending March 2026
- Scottish Government: Recorded Crime in Scotland
- PSNI: Police recorded crime statistics
Figures rounded as published by the ONS. Crime statistics describe what was measured or recorded, not every crime that happened.
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