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.
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
240,497
Value for 30 Sep 2024. View time series for probation caseload
Up 1,851 from 30 Jun 2024
Proven reoffending rate
26.5%
Value for Jan - Mar 2023. View time series for proven reoffending rate
Up 0.1ppt from Oct - Dec 2022
Crown court disposals
102,021
Value for 2023. View time series for crown court disposals
Up 11,955 from 2022
Crown court outstanding
67,284
Value for 31 Dec 2023. View time series for crown court outstanding
Up 4,647 from 31 Dec 2022
Magistrates' courts disposals
1,361,167
Value for 2023. View time series for magistrates' courts disposals
Up 73,993 from 2022
Civil courts - total judgments
1,090,431
Value for 2024. View time series for civil courts - total judgments
Up 31,467 from 2023
Family court - total cases disposed
236,295
Value for 2023. View time series for family court - total cases disposed
Up 32,014 from 2022
Tribunals disposals - overall
345,553
Value for 2023/24. View time series for tribunals disposals - overall
Up 48,532 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)
18,805
Value for Jul-Sep 2024. View time series for prison first receptions (quarterly)
Up 327 from Apr-Jun 2024
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)
14,920
Value for Jul-Sep 2024. View time series for prison releases (quarterly)
Up 1,582 from Apr-Jun 2024
Individuals released on temporary licence
4,388
Value for Jul-Sep 2024. View time series for individuals released on temporary licence
Down 124 from Apr-Jun 2024
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 0.7ppt 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
240,497
Value for 30 Sep 2024. View time series for probation caseload
Up 1,851 from 30 Jun 2024
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
287
Value for 2022/23. View time series for serious further offence convictions
Down 9 from 2021/22
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 Jan - Mar 2023. View time series for proven reoffending rate
Up 0.1ppt from Oct - Dec 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
37.9%
Value for 2023-24. View time series for prisoners completing treatment free from dependence
Up 2.4ppt from 2022-23
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
102,021
Value for 2023. View time series for crown court disposals
Up 11,955 from 2022
Crown court outstanding
67,284
Value for 31 Dec 2023. View time series for crown court outstanding
Up 4,647 from 31 Dec 2022
Crown courts cracked trials
30%
Value for 2023. View time series for crown courts cracked trials
Up 4ppt 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
1,361,167
Value for 2023. View time series for magistrates' courts disposals
Up 73,993 from 2022
Employment tribunal disposals - single claims
30,441
Value for 2023/24. View time series for employment tribunal disposals - single claims
Down 1,821 from 2022/23
Employment tribunal disposals - multiple claims
72,182
Value for 2023/24. View time series for employment tribunal disposals - multiple claims
Up 33,868 from 2022/23
Number of receipts of adult rape cases at the Crown Court
802
Value for Jul-Sep 2024. View time series for number of receipts of adult rape cases at the crown court
Up 55 from Apr-Jun 2024
Civil courts - total judgments
1,090,431
Value for 2024. View time series for civil courts - total judgments
Up 31,467 from 2023
Family court - total cases disposed
236,295
Value for 2023. View time series for family court - total cases disposed
Up 32,014 from 2022
Tribunals disposals - overall
345,553
Value for 2023/24. View time series for tribunals disposals - overall
Up 48,532 from 2022/23
Legal aid - overall annual expenditure (£m)
2,142 (£m)
Value for 2023-24. View time series for legal aid - overall annual expenditure (£m)
Up 297 (£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.
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