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.
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 of England and Wales
10.2 million
Value for 2019/20. View time series for crime figures from crime survey of england and wales
Down 1.0 million from 2018/19
Police recorded crime in England and Wales
6.2 million
Value for 2021/22. View time series for police recorded crime in england and wales
Up 0.9 million from 2020/21
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
80,659
Value for 30-Jun-2022. View time series for prison population
Up 2,335 from 30-Jun-2021
Probation caseload
240,431
Value for 31 Dec 2022. View time series for probation caseload
Down 243 from 30 Sep 2022
Proven reoffending rate
24.8%
Value for Apr - Jun 2021. View time series for proven reoffending rate
Up 0.5ppt from Jan - Mar 2021
Crown court disposals
91,492
Value for 2022. View time series for crown court disposals
Down 4,160 from 2021
Crown court outstanding
62,440
Value for 31 Dec 2022. View time series for crown court outstanding
Up 3,640 from 31 Dec 2021
Magistrates' courts disposals
1,246,845
Value for 2022. View time series for magistrates' courts disposals
Up 76,611 from 2021
Civil courts - total judgments
901,278
Value for 2022. View time series for civil courts - total judgments
Down 79,196 from 2021
Family court - total cases disposed
249,731
Value for 2021. View time series for family court - total cases disposed
Up 23,747 from 2020
Tribunals disposals - overall
265,628
Value for 2020/21. View time series for tribunals disposals - overall
Down 113,001 from 2019/20
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)
16,422
Value for Oct-Dec 2022. View time series for prison first receptions (quarterly)
Up 605 from Jul-Sep 2022
Prison population
80,659
Value for 30-Jun-2022. View time series for prison population
Up 2,335 from 30-Jun-2021
Prison population by sex
| Male | 81,057 prisoners |
|---|---|
| Female | 3,315 prisoners |
Values for 31 Mar 2023. View breakdown for prison population by sex
Prison population by age
Multiple values. View breakdown for prison population by age
Prison population by offence
Multiple values. View breakdown for prison population by offence
Prison releases (quarterly)
11,467
Value for Oct-Dec 2022. View time series for prison releases (quarterly)
Down 78 from Jul-Sep 2022
Individuals released on temporary licence
4,255
Value for Oct-Dec 2022. View time series for individuals released on temporary licence
Down 2 from Jul-Sep 2022
Prison type - male / female
| Male | 106 prisons |
|---|---|
| Female | 12 prisons |
| Under 18 | 4 prisons |
Values for August 2022. View breakdown for prison type - male / female
Prison type - public / private
| Public sector | 107 prisons |
|---|---|
| Private sector (contracted) | 15 prisons |
Values for August 2022. View breakdown for prison type - public / private
Prison operational capacity
82,759
Value for Jun 2022. View time series for prison operational capacity
Up 1,605 from Jun 2021
Prison staff in post
22,288
Value for March 2023. View time series for prison staff in post (bands 3-5)
Up 287 from March 2022
Prisoners held in crowded accommodation
20.6 %
Value for 2021-22. View time series for crowding
Up 0.4ppt from 2020-21
Prisoner on prisoner assaults per 1,000 prisoners
174
Value for 2021-22. View time series for prisoner on prisoner assaults per 1,000 prisoners
Up 15 from 2020-21
Assaults on staff per 1,000 prisoners
90
Value for 2021-22. View time series for assaults on staff per 1,000 prisoners
Down 7 from 2020-21
Self-harm incidents per 1,000 prisoners
687
Value for 2021-22. View time series for self-harm incidents per 1,000 prisoners
Up 2 from 2020-21
Self inflicted deaths
82
Value for 2022-23. View time series for self inflicted deaths
Up 3 from 2021-22
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
1,273
Value for 2021-22. View time series for barricades or prevention of access
Up 56 from 2020-21
Prisons achieve rating 3 or 4 in risk management audit
53.2%
Value for 2021-22. View breakdown for risk management audit
Escapes from prison establishments and HMPPS escort
1
Value for 2021-22. View time series for escapes from prison establishments and HMPPS escort
Up 1 from 2020-21
Prisons achieve rating 3 or 4 in security audit
85.8%
Value for 2021-22. View breakdown for security audit
Electronic monitoring caseload
17,350
Value for Mar 2023. View time series for electronic monitoring caseload
Up 1,956 from Mar 2022
Probation caseload
240,431
Value for 31 Dec 2022. View time series for probation caseload
Down 243 from 30 Sep 2022
Staff in post (PS)
19,850
Value for March 2023. View time series for staff in post (probation service)
Up 2,202 from March 2022
Serious further offence convictions
245
Value for 2020/21. View time series for serious further offence convictions
Down 69 from 2019/20
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
24.8%
Value for Apr - Jun 2021. View time series for proven reoffending rate
Up 0.5ppt from Jan - Mar 2021
Housed on release from custody
77.6%
Value for Jan-Mar 2022 . View time series for housed on release from custody (SL014)
Up 1.2ppt from Oct-Dec 2021
Settled accommodation at 3 months post release
71.0%
Value for Jan-Mar 2022 . View time series for settled accommodation at 3 months post release from custody (sl015a)
Up 3.1ppt from Oct-Dec 2021
Settled accommodation at 3 months post community disposal
80.8%
Value for Jan-Mar 2022 . View time series for settled accommodation at 3 months post community (sl015b)
Up 2.1ppt from Oct-Dec 2021
Employed at 6 weeks post release from custody
12.7%
Value for Jan-Mar 2022 . View time series for employed at 6 weeks post release from custody (SL016)
Up 0.8ppt from Oct-Dec 2021
Employed at 6 months post release
19.8%
Value for Jan-Mar 2022 . View time series for employed at 6 months post release from custody (sl017a)
Up 3.2ppt from Oct-Dec 2021
Employed at 6 months post community disposal
38.9%
Value for Jan-Mar 2022 . View time series for employed at 6 months post community disposal (sl017b)
Up 2.7ppt from Oct-Dec 2021
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
32.5%
Value for 2020-21. View time series for prisoners completing treatment free from dependence
Up 6.2ppt from 2019-20
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
91,492
Value for 2022. View time series for crown court disposals
Down 4,160 from 2021
Crown court outstanding
62,440
Value for 31 Dec 2022. View time series for crown court outstanding
Up 3,640 from 31 Dec 2021
Crown courts cracked trials
26%
Value for 2022. View time series for crown courts cracked trials
Down 3ppt from 2021
Crown courts ineffective trials
37%
Value for 2022. View time series for crown courts ineffective trials
Up 13ppt from 2021
Magistrates' courts disposals
1,246,845
Value for 2022. View time series for magistrates' courts disposals
Up 76,611 from 2021
Employment tribunals disposals
41,622
Value for 2020/21. View time series for employment tribunals disposals
Down 8,595 from 2019/20
Mean days from receipt at Crown Court to completion
248
Value for Oct-Dec 2022. View time series for mean days from receipt at crown court to completion
Up 23 days from Jul-Sep 2022
Number of receipts of adult rape cases at the Crown Court
509
Value for Oct-Dec 2022. View time series for number of receipts of adult rape cases at the crown court
Up 36 from Jul-Sep 2022
Civil courts - total judgments
901,278
Value for 2022. View time series for civil courts - total judgments
Down 79,196 from 2021
Family court - total cases disposed
249,731
Value for 2021. View time series for family court - total cases disposed
Up 23,747 from 2020
Tribunals disposals - overall
265,628
Value for 2020/21. View time series for tribunals disposals - overall
Down 113,001 from 2019/20
Legal aid - overall annual expenditure (£m)
1,641 (£m)
Value for 2021-22. View time series for legal aid - overall annual expenditure (£m)
Up 298 (£m) from 2020-21
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 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 bythe 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
About
The Ministry of Justice is a major government department, at the heart of the justice system. We work to protect and advance the principles of justice. Our vision is to deliver a world-class justice system that works for everyone in society.
MOJ is a ministerial department, supported by 33 agencies and public bodies.
The data on this website is updated once a month, in the first week of each month. 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.