Justice in numbers

The figures below represent a snapshot of the latest published data and comparisons to previous periods. The relevant links to time series provide a more complete view of these figures over a longer period of time as well as links to source material where additional context and caveats can be found to aid interpretation.

The data on this website is usually updated a week after a new publication is available. Updates include all relevant statistics published in the previous month. A complete and up-to-date list of Ministry of Justice statistical publications can be found here.


The release of the latest criminal courts statistics has been postponed for further quality assurance following concerns about the quality of key data inputs. Please refer to the statement at the top of the access to justice section.

Where a direction arrow is shown, this indicates an increase or decrease in the latest value of a measure when compared with the previous period of data.

Crime figures from Crime Survey for England and Wales

8.8 million

Value for 2023/24. View time series for crime figures from crime survey for england and wales

Up 0.1 million from 2022/23

Police recorded crime in England and Wales

6.7 million

Value for 2023/24. View time series for police recorded crime in england and wales

Down 0.1 million from 2022/23

Estimated total cost of crime in England and Wales

£58.9bn

Value for 2015/16. View measure for estimated total cost of crime in england and wales

Prison population

87,726

Value for 30-Jun-2024. View time series for prison population

Up 1,875 from 30-Jun-2023

Probation caseload

239,015

Value for 31 Mar 2024. View time series for probation caseload

Up 250 from 31 Dec 2023

Proven reoffending rate

26.5%

Value for Jul - Sep 2022. View time series for proven reoffending rate

Up 0.7ppt from Apr - Jun 2022

Crown court disposals

99,304

Value for 2023. View time series for crown court disposals

Up 7,570 from 2022

Crown court outstanding

67,573

Value for 31 Dec 2023. View time series for crown court outstanding

Up 4,945 from 31 Dec 2022

Magistrates' courts disposals

1,338,015

Value for 2023. View time series for magistrates' courts disposals

Up 71,710 from 2022

Civil courts - total judgments

1,058,964

Value for 2023. View time series for civil courts - total judgments

Up 157,686 from 2022

Family court - total cases disposed

-

Value for 2023. View time series for family court - total cases disposed

Tribunals disposals - overall

345,334

Value for 2023/24. View time series for tribunals disposals - overall

Up 47,115 from 2022/23


Where a direction arrow is shown, this indicates an increase or decrease in the latest value of a measure when compared with the previous period of data.

Prison first receptions (quarterly)

18,344

Value for Jan-Mar 2024. View time series for prison first receptions (quarterly)

Up 1,102 from Oct-Dec 2023

Prison population

87,726

Value for 30-Jun-2024. View time series for prison population

Up 1,875 from 30-Jun-2023

Prison population by sex

Male 84,043 prisoners
Female 3,683 prisoners

Values for 30 June 2024. View breakdown for prison population by sex

Prison population by age

Multiple values. View breakdown for prison population by age

Prison population by offence group

Multiple values. View breakdown for prison population by offence group

Prison releases (quarterly)

13,289

Value for Jan-Mar 2024. View time series for prison releases (quarterly)

Up 525 from Oct-Dec 2023

Individuals released on temporary licence

4,489

Value for Jan-Mar 2024. View time series for individuals released on temporary licence

Down 19 from Oct-Dec 2023

Prison type - male / female

Male 107 prisons
Female 12 prisons
Under 18 4 prisons

Values for February 2024. View breakdown for prison type - male / female

Prison type - public / private

Public sector 107 prisons
Private sector (contracted) 16 prisons

Values for February 2024. View breakdown for prison type - public / private

Prison operational capacity

88,818

Value for Jun 2024. View time series for prison operational capacity

Up 1,959 from Jun 2023

Prison staff in post

23,614

Value for March 2024. View time series for prison staff in post (bands 3-5)

Up 1,396 from March 2023

Prisoners held in crowded accommodation

23.6%

Value for 2023-24. View time series for crowding

Up 70.0ppt from 2022-23

Prisoner on prisoner assaults per 1,000 prisoners

217

Value for 2023-24. View time series for prisoner on prisoner assaults per 1,000 prisoners

Up 32 from 2022-23

Assaults on staff per 1,000 prisoners

114

Value for 2023-24. View time series for assaults on staff per 1,000 prisoners

Up 22 from 2022-23

Self-harm incidents per 1,000 prisoners

852

Value for 2023-24. View time series for self-harm incidents per 1,000 prisoners

Up 119 from 2022-23

Self inflicted deaths

85

Value for 2023-24. View time series for self inflicted deaths

No change from 2022-23

Positive random mandatory drug tests (traditional)

10.5 %

Value for 2019-20. View time series for random mandatory drug testing (traditional drugs)

Up 0.1ppt from 2018-19

Barricade or prevention of access incidents

1,827

Value for 2023-24. View time series for barricades or prevention of access

Up 456 from 2022-23

Prisons achieve rating 3 or 4 in safety/risk management audit

64.5%

Value for 1 - Performance of serious concern. View breakdown for safety audit/risk management audit

Escapes from prison establishments and escorts

9

Value for 2023-24. View time series for escapes from prison establishments and escorts

Up 1 from 2022-23

Absconds

58

Value for 2023-24. View time series for absconds

Down 5 from 2022-23

Prisons achieve rating 3 or 4 in security audit

80.5%

Value for 1 - Performance of serious concern. View breakdown for security audit

Electronic monitoring caseload

20,084

Value for Mar 2024. View time series for electronic monitoring caseload

Up 2,734 from Mar 2023

Probation caseload

239,015

Value for 31 Mar 2024. View time series for probation caseload

Up 250 from 31 Dec 2023

Staff in post (PS)

20,412

Value for March 2024. View time series for staff in post (probation service)

Up 672 from March 2023

Serious further offence convictions

288

Value for 2021/22. View time series for serious further offence convictions

Up 20 from 2020/21


Where a direction arrow is shown, this indicates an increase or decrease in the latest value of a measure when compared with the previous period of data.

Proven reoffending rate

26.5%

Value for Jul - Sep 2022. View time series for proven reoffending rate

Up 0.7ppt from Apr - Jun 2022

Housed on release from custody

85.7%

Value for Apr 2023 - Mar 2024. View time series for housed on release from custody (MI014)

Down 0.6ppt from Apr 2022 - Mar 2023

Settled accommodation at 3 months post release

73.5%

Value for Apr 2023 - Mar 2024. View time series for settled accommodation at 3 months post release from custody (mi015a)

Down 2.1ppt from Apr 2022 - Mar 2023

Settled accommodation at 3 months post community disposal

85.2%

Value for Apr 2023 - Mar 2024. View time series for settled accommodation at 3 months post community disposal (mi015b)

Up 0.1ppt from Apr 2022 - Mar 2023

Employed at 6 weeks post release from custody

19.3%

Value for Apr 2023 - Mar 2024. View time series for employed at 6 weeks post release from custody (MI016)

Up 1.9ppt from Apr 2022 - Mar 2023

Employed at 6 months post release from custody

31.1%

Value for Apr 2023 - Mar 2024. View time series for employed at 6 months post release from custody (MI017A)

Up 5.2ppt from Apr 2022 - Mar 2023

Employed at 6 months post community disposal

46.4%

Value for Apr 2023 - Mar 2024. View time series for employed at 6 months post community disposal (MI017B)

Up 1.9ppt from Apr 2022 - Mar 2023

Positive random mandatory drug tests (traditional)

10.5 %

Value for 2019-20. View time series for random mandatory drug testing (traditional drugs)

Up 0.1ppt from 2018-19

Positive random mandatory drug tests for new psychoactive substances

4.3 %

Value for 2019-20. View time series for random mandatory drug testing - new psychoactive substances only

Down 4.7ppt from 2018-19

Prisoners completing treatment free from dependence

35.5%

Value for 2022-23. View time series for prisoners completing treatment free from dependence

Up 3.2ppt from 2021-22


The release of the latest criminal court statistics has been postponed for further quality assurance following concerns about the quality of key data inputs. This is in line with the Code of Practice for Statistics.

This will also affect the published back series.

HMCTS and MoJ are working at pace to conduct detailed case reviews in order to understand the precise extent of these quality issues. Until this work concludes, it is too early to quantify reliably the issue.

The criminal court statistics page will be kept updated with future publication plans and this service will be updated in line with this.

Justice is a core public service relied upon by victims, families and businesses. Whether to resolve a business dispute, protect a child at risk, or bring an offender to justice - we aim to ensure that when our system is needed, it can be accessed swiftly (Ministry of Justice outcome delivery plan)

Where a direction arrow is shown, this indicates an increase or decrease in the latest value of a measure when compared with the previous period of data.

Crown court disposals

99,304

Value for 2023. View time series for crown court disposals

Up 7,570 from 2022

Crown court outstanding

67,573

Value for 31 Dec 2023. View time series for crown court outstanding

Up 4,945 from 31 Dec 2022

Crown courts cracked trials

31%

Value for 2023. View time series for crown courts cracked trials

Up 5ppt from 2022

Crown courts ineffective trials

27%

Value for 2023. View time series for crown courts ineffective trials

Down 9ppt from 2022

Magistrates' courts disposals

1,338,015

Value for 2023. View time series for magistrates' courts disposals

Up 71,710 from 2022

Employment tribunal disposals - single claims

30,705

Value for 2023/24. View time series for employment tribunal disposals - single claims

Down 1,568 from 2022/23

Employment tribunal disposals - multiple claims

71,989

Value for 2023/24. View time series for employment tribunal disposals - multiple claims

Up 32,488 from 2022/23

Mean days from receipt at Crown Court to completion

240

Value for Oct-Dec 2023. View time series for mean days from receipt at crown court to completion

Down 1 days from Jul-Sep 2023

Number of receipts of adult rape cases at the Crown Court

662

Value for Oct-Dec 2023. View time series for number of receipts of adult rape cases at the crown court

Down 5 from Jul-Sep 2023

Civil courts - total judgments

1,058,964

Value for 2023. View time series for civil courts - total judgments

Up 157,686 from 2022

Family court - total cases disposed

-

Value for 2023. View time series for family court - total cases disposed

Tribunals disposals - overall

345,334

Value for 2023/24. View time series for tribunals disposals - overall

Up 47,115 from 2022/23

2,116 (£m)

Value for 2023-24. View time series for legal aid - overall annual expenditure (£m)


Criminal justice system statistics

Measures covering the wider criminal justice system. Includes trends in the use of out of court disposals, defendants prosecuted, offenders convicted, and sentencing decisions in England and Wales.


Prisons data

The government is reforming the way prisons work in order to improve how they protect the public, keep staff and prisoners safe, and turn from crime. To do this we are holding prison governors to account for improvements in the following areas:


Probation data

On 26th June 2021 the privatised probation services (the Community Rehabilitation Companies) were returned to public control, and absorbed into the newly named "Probation Service". The unified Probation Service is now responsible for managing all those on a court order or licence following their release from prison in England and Wales. There are now 12 probation regions across England and Wales, introducing 11 new probation regions in England; arrangements in Wales remain unchanged.

The Impacts of COVID-19

Probation acted swiftly in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, adapting systems and processes to rapidly determine the delivery levels possible and mobilising teams to achieve this at pace. This included ensuring face to face contact remained with those people on probation posing the highest risk and introducing new, innovative ways of working to supervise others and to continue to deliver other aspects of probation.

Delivery has continued to adapt in response to restrictions both locally and nationally. The development of Exceptional Delivery Models enabled Regional Probation Directors to take decisions around what services they are able to provide in their regions based on local circumstances, and flex these quickly as the situation changes. The Probation Service has since driven recovery progress forward as quickly as restrictions have allowed, in line with Public Health and Health and Safety guidance. All regions in England and Wales ceased to use their Covid Exceptional Delivery Models on 31st January 2022 and transitioned onto a Prioritisation Framework. This Framework allows Regional Probation Directors to focus on delivering key public protection responsibilities and have flexibility to adjust or pause other delivery areas identified in the framework if needed.


Contracted services

Some services have never been provided directly by the Department and have always been procured. In addition, the Department has renewed and renegotiated a number of contracts for areas of work that were outsourced prior to the creation of the Ministry of Justice. At any one time there are over one hundred procurement projects underway. Some examples of major procurement projects undertaken by the department include but are not limited the following:


Courts data

HM Courts & Tribunal Service (HMCTS) is responsible for the administration of the criminal, civil and family courts in England and Wales, tribunals in England, and non-devolved tribunals in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

HMCTS is an executive agency, sponsored by the Ministry of Justice (MOJ). The Ministry of Justice publishes the official statistics relating to the operation of the criminal and civil justice systems, including courts and tribunals. These are published on a quarterly basis and are the best, most comprehensive figures on this topic for most purposes.


Legal aid data

Legal aid can help meet the costs of legal advice, family mediation and representation in a court or tribunal.

You’ll usually need to show that:

  • your case is eligible for legal aid
  • the problem is serious
  • you cannot afford to pay for legal costs