Record High in Sex Offences Reported to Police Across England and Wales
Official statistics released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) have revealed a significant and concerning increase in the number of sex offences reported to police, reaching a record high. The data, covering the year to September, shows that there were 214,816 recorded sex crimes, marking an eight per cent rise compared to the previous year.
Alarming Rise in Rape Cases and Daily Incident Rate
This total includes the highest-ever number of recorded rapes, with 74,265 cases reported, representing a seven per cent increase. The overall figure translates to a staggering 588 incidents every single day, highlighting the scale of the issue facing law enforcement and communities.
Historical Context and Factors Behind the Increase
When compared to historical data, the rise is stark. In 2003, the number of reported sex crimes stood at less than 57,000. The ONS attributes the continuing upward trend to improved recording practices by police forces, which have become more adept at capturing and logging such offences. Additionally, the latest increase is partly due to two new sexual offences introduced under the Online Safety Act in January 2024, specifically relating to 'sending or sharing intimate photographs or films'.
Shoplifting and Drug Crime Trends Revealed
The ONS report also detailed other crime categories. Cases of shoplifting reported to police climbed five per cent year-on-year to 519,381. However, this figure was slightly down from the previously published data for the overlapping period to June 2025, which stood at 529,994.
More alarmingly, the figures revealed a growing drugs crimewave in England and Wales. Drug offences recorded by the police hit just over 225,200 in the year, up significantly from 185,500. This represents the highest level of recorded drug crime in 13 years.
Political and Policing Responses to Rising Crime
These statistics emerge amid new plans by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood to reorganise policing. This week, she outlined proposals to shake-up policing by merging police forces and introducing a new National Police Service, aiming to address such crime trends more effectively.
The combined data paints a complex picture of crime in England and Wales, with sexual offences and drug-related crimes showing particularly sharp increases, prompting calls for robust policy and policing strategies.
