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

Absconds

95

Value for 2021-22. View time series for absconds

Down 6 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

1,641 (£m)

Value for 2021-22. 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 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.