Police record 7.1 million crimes in England and Wales as fraud rises

Police recorded 7,084,375 crimes in England and Wales in the year to June, an 8 per cent rise and the first annual total above seven million since modern recording began. The increase was driven largely by fraud reports, while recorded offences excluding fraud and computer misuse fell slightly.

Fraud reports rose 41 per cent to 1.8 million, alongside the launch of the Report Fraud service; a separate crime survey estimated 4.5 million fraud incidents, up 11 per cent. Robberies rose 10 per cent to 88,282, including a 67 per cent rise in business robberies, while shoplifting fell 2 per cent to 519,516. Retailers said some thefts may now be recorded as robberies where violence or threats are involved.