Mapped: The areas of the UK with the highest levels of crime revealed
Shoplifting offences reach record high as homicides drop
- Police forces in England and Wales recorded 6.6 million crimes in the past year, an increase from 6.1 million in 2019-2020 and 4.2 million a decade earlier.
- Shoplifting offences surged to 530,643 in 2024/25, marking a 20 per cent rise from the previous year and the highest figure since current recording practices began in 2003.
- Theft from the person also saw a 15 per cent increase to 151,220 recorded offences, while homicides dropped by six per cent to 535, reaching their lowest level in over a decade.
- The Metropolitan Police recorded the highest numbers across several categories, including overall crimes, homicides, sexual offences, and shoplifting incidents.
- Retail bosses have warned that official statistics may not fully capture the extent of shoplifting, with the Home Secretary pledging increased neighbourhood policing and additional officers.