The latest official UK crime statistics for England and Wales were published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on 22 October 2026 and cover the year ending June 2026. They show overall crime measured by the national survey broadly unchanged on the year, fraud and computer misuse rising, and police-recorded burglary falling. This guide sets out the key figures, explains how to read them without being misled, and shows what they mean for securing your own home.
All figures below come from the ONS bulletin Crime in England and Wales: year ending June 2026 unless stated. The next update is due on 28 January 2027.
Two sources, two different numbers
Before looking at any figure, it helps to know there are two main measures of crime in England and Wales, and they answer different questions.
| Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) | Police recorded crime | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A large household survey asking people about crimes they experienced, reported or not | Crimes reported to and recorded by police forces in England and Wales |
| Best for | Long-term trends in common crimes against households and adults | Trends in offences that are well reported and well recorded, such as residential burglary, and spotting emerging trends |
| Main weakness | It is a sample, so estimates carry uncertainty | Affected by reporting rates and changes in police recording practice |
| Status | Accredited official statistics | Official statistics, but accreditation was removed by the Office for Statistics Regulation in January 2014 |
The ONS says the CSEW is the better guide to long-term trends for the crimes it covers, while police data is useful for specific offences such as residential burglary. Neither is “the true number”; they are different lenses.
The latest figures at a glance (year ending June 2026)
From the Crime Survey for England and Wales
- Headline crime: an estimated 9.7 million incidents, which the ONS describes as no statistically significant change on the previous year’s survey (around 9.3 million). It is 14% below the year ending March 2017 (11.2 million), the earliest comparable year.
- Fraud: 4.5 million incidents, up 11% from 4.1 million. Bank and credit account fraud rose 13% to 2.8 million.
- Computer misuse: 817,000 incidents, up 23% from 663,000.
- Theft: 2.7 million incidents, no statistically significant change, and 27% below the year ending March 2016.
- Other household theft: up 27% to around 833,000 incidents. This includes theft from outside the home, such as from gardens, and the ONS counts it separately from burglary.
- Violence: 939,000 incidents, no statistically significant change.
The survey figures are based on interviews from July 2025 to June 2026, covering crimes experienced from July 2024 to May 2026.
From police recorded crime
- Burglary (residential and non-residential combined): down 6% to 222,304 offences.
- Vehicle offences: down 7% to 312,231 offences.
- Shoplifting: down 2% to 519,516 offences.
- Theft from the person: down 20% to 115,891 offences.
- Knife or sharp instrument offences: down 6% to 48,615.
For context, the previous quarter’s bulletin (year ending March 2026, published 23 July 2026) reported police recorded burglary down 9% to 223,456 offences, so the downward direction has held across two releases.
How to read crime statistics without being misled
1. Check the period
ONS figures are rolling 12-month totals, such as “year ending June 2026”. A headline saying “crime is up” may be comparing different periods or quoting a single quarter. Always find the dates.
2. Check which source is being quoted
A story about “9.7 million crimes” is using the survey; a story about “222,304 burglaries” is using police records. They are not directly comparable, and switching between them can make trends look bigger or smaller than they are.
3. Look for “statistically significant”
Because the CSEW is a sample, small changes may be noise. When the ONS says there was “no statistically significant change”, treat the figure as flat, even if the number moved. The rise in headline crime from about 9.3 million to 9.7 million falls into this category.
4. Watch the categories
The police burglary figure above includes both homes and non-residential buildings. Theft from outside the home, such as from a garden, is counted as “other household theft” in the survey rather than as burglary. Category names matter.
5. Be careful with recording changes
Changes in how police record crime can move numbers without any real change in crime. The ONS flags these in its bulletins. For example, it notes that a rise in recorded business robbery was largely due to a clarified recording rule.
6. Use local maps with care
The police.uk crime map shows recorded crime for your area, but locations are anonymised: crimes are shown on or near where they happened, not at the exact address. Categories are broad, and overview graphs only show complete quarters so an unfinished quarter does not look misleadingly low. Use it to see patterns on your street or estate, not to judge a single house.
What the figures mean for home security
The headline is reassuring rather than alarming: police recorded burglary is falling, and survey-measured crime is well below where it was a decade ago. But averages do not protect individual homes, and two points stand out for householders.
Burglary is lower, but still common
Police still recorded more than 220,000 burglaries of homes and other buildings in a single year, and not every burglary is reported. Whatever the reasons for the fall, the sensible response is to keep your own doors and habits up to standard rather than relax. If your uPVC door still has its original cylinder, read our guide to anti lock snapping and our overview of how secure uPVC doors really are.
Theft from around the home is rising
The 27% rise in other household theft is a reminder that things outside the house are targets too, and sheds, garages and bikes are worth protecting as well. Lock outbuildings, keep tools and ladders out of sight (they can be used to break into the house), and consider an alarm sensor on the shed.
Fraud is now the biggest single category
At 4.5 million incidents, fraud is far larger than burglary in the survey. Home security today includes doorstep and online safety: do not let unexpected callers in, check ID, and never give bank details to someone who calls you.
Practical steps based on the data
- Check your local picture on police.uk for the last few complete quarters, focusing on burglary and other theft near you.
- Lock up properly every time: on a uPVC door, lift the handle and turn the key so the multi-point lock engages.
- Upgrade weak cylinders to a TS 007 3-star or Sold Secure Diamond rated product.
- Add a physical barrier when you are home. A door security bar holds the door shut even if the lock is attacked.
- Secure outbuildings and keep tools locked away.
- Think about an alarm. Avon and Somerset Police advise that most burglars are put off by alarms, and suggest sorting physical security first.
In a fire: find the key, lift the Door Jammer off (or unlock and remove the Door Handle Guard), unlock the door and leave the building.
What about Scotland and Northern Ireland?
The ONS figures above cover England and Wales only. Scotland publishes its own statistics, such as Recorded Crime in Scotland 2025-26, and the Police Service of Northern Ireland publishes recorded crime for Northern Ireland. Definitions differ (Scotland uses “housebreaking” rather than burglary), so do not combine the figures into a single UK total.
FAQs
Is crime going up or down in the UK?
In England and Wales, the latest survey shows no statistically significant change in overall crime over the year to June 2026, while police recorded burglary fell 6%. Fraud and computer misuse rose.
Which figure should I trust, the survey or police data?
Both, for different jobs. The survey is better for long-term trends because it includes unreported crime. Police data is better for well-reported offences such as residential burglary, and for local detail.
How often are UK crime statistics updated?
The ONS publishes quarterly, each time covering the latest 12 months. The release after the year ending June 2026 bulletin is due on 28 January 2027.
Does a low crime rate in my area mean I am safe?
It means the risk is lower, not zero. Burglars target individual weaknesses such as an unlocked door or a poor cylinder, so basic security still matters everywhere. Our guide on how to secure your home covers the essentials.
Next steps
The statistics say burglary is falling, and the best way to keep your home out of the figures is to make it hard to get into. For uPVC doors, the Door Jammer – HOLDOOR hooks under the inside handle and braces the door against the floor, so it stays shut even if the lock is snapped, bumped or picked. It is Sold Secure Bronze rated and Secured by Design accredited, fits most UK single-handle uPVC doors with no drilling, and costs ÂŖ90 with free UK delivery. It is not suitable for sliding, French/double or patio doors.
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