Crime lower
This area covers work carried out by legal aid providers at police stations and in magistrates' courts in relation to people accused of or charged with criminal offences. Prison law is also included within the latter category.
Total claim volume
| Period | Total claim volume |
|---|---|
| Apr 2001 - Mar 2002 | 1,685,094 |
| Apr 2002 - Mar 2003 | 1,549,626 |
| Apr 2003 - Mar 2004 | 1,579,751 |
| Apr 2004 - Mar 2005 | 1,505,674 |
| Apr 2005 - Mar 2006 | 1,528,383 |
| Apr 2006 - Mar 2007 | 1,462,987 |
| Apr 2007 - Mar 2008 | 1,381,424 |
| Apr 2008 - Mar 2009 | 1,521,547 |
| Apr 2009 - Mar 2010 | 1,501,589 |
| Apr 2010 - Mar 2011 | 1,429,889 |
| Apr 2011 - Mar 2012 | 1,332,269 |
| Apr 2012 - Mar 2013 | 1,234,409 |
| Apr 2013 - Mar 2014 | 1,203,518 |
| Apr 2014 - Mar 2015 | 1,129,606 |
| Apr 2015 - Mar 2016 | 1,036,023 |
| Apr 2016 - Mar 2017 | 984,602 |
| Apr 2017 - Mar 2018 | 932,958 |
| Apr 2018 - Mar 2019 | 899,572 |
| Apr 2019 - Mar 2020 | 884,327 |
| Apr 2020 - Mar 2021 | 812,824 |
| Apr 2021 - Mar 2022 | 840,250 |
| Apr 2022 - Mar 2023 | 848,749 |
| Apr 2023 - Mar 2024 | 939,760 |
| Apr 2024 - Mar 2025 | 986,795 |
Apr 2024 - Mar 2025
986,795
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Legal aid statistics (quarterly) publication.
Publication date
Published: 20 November 2025. Next publication: 26 March 2026 9:30am. Update expected here by 15 April 2026.
Police station advice
| Period | Police station advice |
|---|---|
| Apr 2001 - Mar 2002 | 757,579 |
| Apr 2002 - Mar 2003 | 762,702 |
| Apr 2003 - Mar 2004 | 791,971 |
| Apr 2004 - Mar 2005 | 800,793 |
| Apr 2005 - Mar 2006 | 822,960 |
| Apr 2006 - Mar 2007 | 801,714 |
| Apr 2007 - Mar 2008 | 778,757 |
| Apr 2008 - Mar 2009 | 875,566 |
| Apr 2009 - Mar 2010 | 859,647 |
| Apr 2010 - Mar 2011 | 849,716 |
| Apr 2011 - Mar 2012 | 794,074 |
| Apr 2012 - Mar 2013 | 734,730 |
| Apr 2013 - Mar 2014 | 736,886 |
| Apr 2014 - Mar 2015 | 713,055 |
| Apr 2015 - Mar 2016 | 664,585 |
| Apr 2016 - Mar 2017 | 636,052 |
| Apr 2017 - Mar 2018 | 616,581 |
| Apr 2018 - Mar 2019 | 602,094 |
| Apr 2019 - Mar 2020 | 606,991 |
| Apr 2020 - Mar 2021 | 569,986 |
| Apr 2021 - Mar 2022 | 557,572 |
| Apr 2022 - Mar 2023 | 577,274 |
| Apr 2023 - Mar 2024 | 652,659 |
| Apr 2024 - Mar 2025 | 684,253 |
Apr 2024 - Mar 2025
684,253
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Legal aid statistics (quarterly) publication.
Publication date
Published: 20 November 2025. Next publication: 26 March 2026 9:30am. Update expected here by 15 April 2026.
Magistrates court representation
| Period | Magistrates court representation |
|---|---|
| Apr 2001 - Mar 2002 | 920,573 |
| Apr 2002 - Mar 2003 | 771,650 |
| Apr 2003 - Mar 2004 | 770,249 |
| Apr 2004 - Mar 2005 | 685,271 |
| Apr 2005 - Mar 2006 | 681,239 |
| Apr 2006 - Mar 2007 | 630,985 |
| Apr 2007 - Mar 2008 | 566,743 |
| Apr 2008 - Mar 2009 | 599,653 |
| Apr 2009 - Mar 2010 | 589,441 |
| Apr 2010 - Mar 2011 | 528,833 |
| Apr 2011 - Mar 2012 | 490,690 |
| Apr 2012 - Mar 2013 | 452,880 |
| Apr 2013 - Mar 2014 | 427,432 |
| Apr 2014 - Mar 2015 | 392,709 |
| Apr 2015 - Mar 2016 | 352,526 |
| Apr 2016 - Mar 2017 | 329,169 |
| Apr 2017 - Mar 2018 | 296,209 |
| Apr 2018 - Mar 2019 | 276,442 |
| Apr 2019 - Mar 2020 | 257,085 |
| Apr 2020 - Mar 2021 | 226,652 |
| Apr 2021 - Mar 2022 | 265,805 |
| Apr 2022 - Mar 2023 | 255,526 |
| Apr 2023 - Mar 2024 | 269,783 |
| Apr 2024 - Mar 2025 | 284,480 |
Apr 2024 - Mar 2025
284,480
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Legal aid statistics (quarterly) publication.
Publication date
Published: 20 November 2025. Next publication: 26 March 2026 9:30am. Update expected here by 15 April 2026.
Advice & assistance on appeals
| Period | Advice & assistance on appeals |
|---|---|
| Apr 2001 - Mar 2002 | 1,695 |
| Apr 2002 - Mar 2003 | 1,522 |
| Apr 2003 - Mar 2004 | 1,604 |
| Apr 2004 - Mar 2005 | 1,984 |
| Apr 2005 - Mar 2006 | 2,282 |
| Apr 2006 - Mar 2007 | 2,254 |
| Apr 2007 - Mar 2008 | 1,838 |
| Apr 2008 - Mar 2009 | 2,278 |
| Apr 2009 - Mar 2010 | 2,876 |
| Apr 2010 - Mar 2011 | 3,110 |
| Apr 2011 - Mar 2012 | 3,542 |
| Apr 2012 - Mar 2013 | 4,027 |
| Apr 2013 - Mar 2014 | 2,982 |
| Apr 2014 - Mar 2015 | 2,355 |
| Apr 2015 - Mar 2016 | 1,510 |
| Apr 2016 - Mar 2017 | 1,455 |
| Apr 2017 - Mar 2018 | 1,332 |
| Apr 2018 - Mar 2019 | 1,353 |
| Apr 2019 - Mar 2020 | 1,032 |
| Apr 2020 - Mar 2021 | 943 |
| Apr 2021 - Mar 2022 | 920 |
| Apr 2022 - Mar 2023 | 987 |
| Apr 2023 - Mar 2024 | 778 |
| Apr 2024 - Mar 2025 | 589 |
Apr 2024 - Mar 2025
589
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Legal aid statistics (quarterly) publication.
Publication date
Published: 20 November 2025. Next publication: 26 March 2026 9:30am. Update expected here by 15 April 2026.
Prison law
| Period | Prison law |
|---|---|
| Apr 2001 - Mar 2002 | 5,247 |
| Apr 2002 - Mar 2003 | 11,183 |
| Apr 2003 - Mar 2004 | 13,728 |
| Apr 2004 - Mar 2005 | 15,698 |
| Apr 2005 - Mar 2006 | 19,928 |
| Apr 2006 - Mar 2007 | 26,401 |
| Apr 2007 - Mar 2008 | 32,193 |
| Apr 2008 - Mar 2009 | 42,452 |
| Apr 2009 - Mar 2010 | 47,920 |
| Apr 2010 - Mar 2011 | 46,285 |
| Apr 2011 - Mar 2012 | 42,681 |
| Apr 2012 - Mar 2013 | 41,080 |
| Apr 2013 - Mar 2014 | 34,985 |
| Apr 2014 - Mar 2015 | 20,967 |
| Apr 2015 - Mar 2016 | 17,169 |
| Apr 2016 - Mar 2017 | 17,734 |
| Apr 2017 - Mar 2018 | 18,649 |
| Apr 2018 - Mar 2019 | 19,521 |
| Apr 2019 - Mar 2020 | 19,108 |
| Apr 2020 - Mar 2021 | 15,161 |
| Apr 2021 - Mar 2022 | 15,896 |
| Apr 2022 - Mar 2023 | 14,897 |
| Apr 2023 - Mar 2024 | 16,447 |
| Apr 2024 - Mar 2025 | 17,416 |
Apr 2024 - Mar 2025
17,416
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Legal aid statistics (quarterly) publication.
Publication date
Published: 20 November 2025. Next publication: 26 March 2026 9:30am. Update expected here by 15 April 2026.
Civil work associated with crime cases
| Period | Civil work associated with crime cases |
|---|---|
| Apr 2002 - Mar 2003 | 2,569 |
| Apr 2003 - Mar 2004 | 2,199 |
| Apr 2004 - Mar 2005 | 1,928 |
| Apr 2005 - Mar 2006 | 1,974 |
| Apr 2006 - Mar 2007 | 1,633 |
| Apr 2007 - Mar 2008 | 1,893 |
| Apr 2008 - Mar 2009 | 1,598 |
| Apr 2009 - Mar 2010 | 1,705 |
| Apr 2010 - Mar 2011 | 1,945 |
| Apr 2011 - Mar 2012 | 1,282 |
| Apr 2012 - Mar 2013 | 1,692 |
| Apr 2013 - Mar 2014 | 1,233 |
| Apr 2014 - Mar 2015 | 520 |
| Apr 2015 - Mar 2016 | 233 |
| Apr 2016 - Mar 2017 | 192 |
| Apr 2017 - Mar 2018 | 187 |
| Apr 2018 - Mar 2019 | 162 |
| Apr 2019 - Mar 2020 | 111 |
| Apr 2020 - Mar 2021 | 82 |
| Apr 2021 - Mar 2022 | 57 |
| Apr 2022 - Mar 2023 | 65 |
| Apr 2023 - Mar 2024 | 93 |
| Apr 2024 - Mar 2025 | 57 |
Apr 2024 - Mar 2025
57
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Legal aid statistics (quarterly) publication.
Publication date
Published: 20 November 2025. Next publication: 26 March 2026 9:30am. Update expected here by 15 April 2026.
Total legal aid expenditure - crime lower (£'000)
| Period | Total legal aid expenditure - crime lower (£'000) |
|---|---|
| Apr 2001 - Mar 2002 | 500,801 |
| Apr 2002 - Mar 2003 | 506,619 |
| Apr 2003 - Mar 2004 | 515,697 |
| Apr 2004 - Mar 2005 | 497,203 |
| Apr 2005 - Mar 2006 | 518,810 |
| Apr 2006 - Mar 2007 | 517,454 |
| Apr 2007 - Mar 2008 | 473,093 |
| Apr 2008 - Mar 2009 | 486,441 |
| Apr 2009 - Mar 2010 | 475,360 |
| Apr 2010 - Mar 2011 | 438,561 |
| Apr 2011 - Mar 2012 | 409,679 |
| Apr 2012 - Mar 2013 | 387,385 |
| Apr 2013 - Mar 2014 | 379,526 |
| Apr 2014 - Mar 2015 | 333,956 |
| Apr 2015 - Mar 2016 | 286,776 |
| Apr 2016 - Mar 2017 | 283,891 |
| Apr 2017 - Mar 2018 | 270,593 |
| Apr 2018 - Mar 2019 | 260,407 |
| Apr 2019 - Mar 2020 | 254,752 |
| Apr 2020 - Mar 2021 | 223,925 |
| Apr 2021 - Mar 2022 | 248,199 |
| Apr 2022 - Mar 2023 | 257,113 |
| Apr 2023 - Mar 2024 | 301,355 |
| Apr 2024 - Mar 2025 | 322,761 |
Apr 2024 - Mar 2025
322,761
Data source
The data source for this measure and more detailed information can be found in the Legal aid statistics (quarterly) publication.
Publication date
Published: 20 November 2025. Next publication: 26 March 2026 9:30am. Update expected here by 15 April 2026.