Robbery, harassment and fraud rise across England and Wales

In England and Wales, certain criminal activities saw an increase in the year leading up to March 2026, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The overall Crime Survey for England and Wales, however, reported no significant change from the previous year, with an estimated 9.6 million incidents.

Robbery cases increased by 10 percent, with 87,362 recorded by the police, a rise mainly attributed to business robberies that jumped by 91 percent, reaching 29,669. This surge was primarily due to a change in recording procedures from April 2025, which prompted police to categorize shop thefts involving violence or threats as robberies. Personal property robberies, on the other hand, fell by 9 percent.

Meanwhile, recorded instances of rape saw a 4 percent increase, with 74,727 cases reported. Violence without injury rose by 2 percent, while violence with injury decreased by 3 percent. The ONS cautions that police figures for these offences might not accurately reflect trends due to variations in recording methods and increased reporting of victims.

Harassment cases recorded by police rose by 6 percent, but the ONS notes that these figures may not be reliable indicators of trends. The ONS survey, however, found a statistically significant rise in repeated harassment among adults aged 16 and over, with the percentage increasing from 2.3 percent to 3.5 percent, or approximately 1.7 million people.

The ONS survey also revealed a 10 percent increase in the number of adult fraud victims, with 3.8 million people affected. Bank and credit account fraud incidents increased by 15 percent, reaching about 2.8 million, while total fraud incidents stood at 4.5 million, with no statistically significant change.