Domesday Live

Is crime going up or down?

Overall, crime measured by the Crime Survey has fallen by about three-quarters since its peak in the mid-1990s and is lower than a decade ago. Police recorded crime tells a different story because it counts what is reported and recorded, which has risen with better recording and more reporting. Fraud and online crime are rising.

Why it happens

• Two different measures. The Crime Survey asks people what happened to them, including crimes never reported. Police figures count only what is reported and recorded, and change when recording rules change.
• Traditional crime has fallen. Burglary and vehicle theft are far lower than in the 1990s, helped by better locks, alarms and car security.
• Some crimes are rising. Fraud and online crime are now a big share of all crime. Shoplifting and some violent offences have risen in recent years.
• Recording matters. Police recording of violence and sexual offences became stricter after 2014, and greater willingness to report adds to recorded totals without meaning more happened.