Latest crime statistics show shoplifting at 20 year high
- Beth Mooney
- 14 minutes ago
- 5 min read
Perspectives
Alex Stacey, Senior Quantitative Analyst | Alex Ranson, Analyst
Friday 25 July 2025
The latest crime figures were published by the ONS yesterday. Below are Crest’s four takeaways
Shoplifting incidents hit a 20 year high
Between April 2024 and March 2025, police recorded 530,643 shoplifting offences—a 19.5% increase on the previous year and a 55% rise compared to 2022/23. As the ONS notes (1), shoplifting offences have seen a sharp rise since the pandemic and now stand at their highest level since 2002/03.
It is unclear whether this increase reflects a genuine rise in offending, improved reporting practices, or a combination of both. Regardless, the figures highlight the scale of the challenge for policing. In 2023/24, only 16.4% of shoplifting cases resulted in a charge—slightly above the average for all crimes, but still worryingly low. In over half of all cases, no suspect was identified.
Though often dismissed as a low-level offence, the rise in shoplifting—and the sense that offenders are rarely held to account—matters to the public. For many, it reinforces a broader perception of weakened authority and declining public order, contributing to concerns that institutions can no longer uphold basic standards of safety and accountability.
The Government has introduced measures through the Crime and Policing Bill to remove the category of “low-value shoplifting”—which currently treats thefts under £200 as summary-only offences carrying a maximum six-month custodial sentence. While retailers have welcomed the move - as both a deterrent and a signal that the justice system is taking shoplifting more seriously - questions remain about whether the police and the wider criminal justice system have the resources to respond effectively - and whether it will be enough to reverse the trend.
Fraud reports continue to rise - now making up nearly half of all crime
Fraud remains the most prevalent crime reported by the public, now accounting for 44% of all incidents captured by the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW). In the survey, 4,159 people reported being a victim of fraud in the last 12 months - a 31% increase compared to 2023/24. The CSEW is seen as a reliable measure of crime trends over time that is not influenced by police records and can be seen as an accurate reflection of the public's experiences of crime. In contrast, police data recorded a 7% decrease in instances of fraud and computer misuse. This difference would suggest that there has been a decrease in reporting instances of fraud to the police, rather than a decrease in the crime itself.
Fraud is not only widespread; it is also serious. Beyond the financial losses it causes, the emotional impact can be profound. Previous research by Crest has shown that the emotional harm can be worse for victims than the financial impact. Fraud is also deeply interwoven with serious and organised crime: a National Crime Agency assessment found that two-thirds of organised crime groups committing fraud are also involved in other forms of criminal activity. The crime affects all age groups, with 88% of individuals aged 13 to 21 targeted by fraud between April 2023 and March 2024 (2).
Despite the prevalence and impact of fraud, it continues to receive limited public and governmental attention. A 2022 House of Commons committee report found that just 2% of police funding is allocated to tackling fraud—a stark mismatch with its share of total crime. The Government has committed to publishing a new fraud strategy in the coming year. The hope is that it will offer a bold and adequately resourced response to a fast-evolving and increasingly complex threat.
There are small but consistent falls in violent crime - but overall figures remain high
CSEW and police-recorded levels of violence have both seen a small reduction in 2024/25. 1,940,059 crimes of violence against the person were recorded by the police in 2024/25, a fall of 3.7% compared to 2023/24, while the CSEW reported a 2% reduction in crimes of violence against the person.
While this reduction in violence is welcomed, overall figures remain high and many communities continue to feel unsafe. Worries about crime have remained stable, with the CSEW reporting that 8% of people were very worried about violent crime which is unchanged since 2019/20. Perceptions of changing crime levels have also worsened - 83% of those surveyed believe that crime has gone up nationally, rising from 79% in 2023/24 and 74% in 2022/23. Fewer (53%) believe that crime has gone up locally but this still represents an increase on previous years.
Politically, the spotlight remains on the Government’s target to halve knife crime within the next decade. They will be launching new Young Futures Hubs and piloting new multi-agency Prevention Partnership Panels, with the aim of proactively identifying and supporting young people at risk of being drawn into gangs, violence and knife crime. The Government has also implemented stronger controls on dangerous knives and bans on zombie-style knives and ninja swords.
The test will be whether these measures translate into meaningful reductions in knife crime—and, crucially, whether they restore a sense of safety in communities.
A new way of measuring VAWG highlights the scale of the issue
This year, the Crime Survey for England & Wales (CSEW) introduced a new measure that calculates the combined prevalence of domestic abuse, sexual assault, and stalking among the population - an approach Crest previously recommended. In 2024/25, 10.6% of people reported being a victim of one or more of these crimes, reducing from 11.3% in 2023/24. Women remain at a greater risk of experiencing these crimes than men, with 12.8% of women reporting that they were a victim of these crimes compared to 8.4% of men.
It’s encouraging to see the ONS introduce this measure, which provides a more accurate and impactful picture of the scale of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG). Crucially, this new benchmark will serve as a vital tool in tracking progress towards the Government’s ambitious target to halve VAWG by 2035. As the Government prepares to announce its VAWG strategy later this year, this measure lays a foundation for more informed policymaking and focused intervention.
If you’re interested in how Crest can support and advise on out-of-court resolutions and other criminal justice system reforms, please get in touch on contact@crestadvisory.com or visit www.crestadvisory.com to find out more about our work.
