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.
In short
- Recorded crime passed seven million for the first time.
- Fraud reports rose 41 per cent to 1.8 million.
- Robberies increased, especially those targeting businesses.
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The case for
The record total and sharp rise in fraud reports may point to a growing burden on victims and businesses, especially as robberies also increased. From this perspective, the figures support stronger efforts to prevent fraud and protect people from theft and threats, while recognising that improved reporting may reveal offences that were previously missed.
The case against
Recorded totals do not necessarily mean that crime itself rose by the same amount: fraud reports increased amid the launch of a new reporting service, and the crime survey showed a smaller rise in incidents. Excluding fraud and computer misuse, recorded offences fell slightly, and some changes in how retailers classify thefts may also affect comparisons; policy should therefore look beyond the headline total.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Recorded crime rockets past 7m incidents a year for first time, amid huge surge in fraud and robbery”.