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
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
Legal aid - overall annual expenditure (£m)
2,116 (£m)
Value for 2023-24. View time series for legal aid - overall annual expenditure (£m)
Up 269 (£m) from 2022-23
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:
- protecting the public;
- maintaining safety and order;
- reforming offenders to prevent more crimes from being committed; and
- preparing prisoners for life outside the prison.
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:
- electronic monitoring;
- maintaining the community accommodation service, Tier 2 (CAS-2) previously known as bail accommodation support services (BASS); and
- prison escorting and custodial services (PECS).
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