Report Reveals Over 280,000 Crimes Not Recorded in England, Wales

(MENAFN) More than 280,000 crimes in England and Wales went unrecorded by police last year, with violent offenses comprising the largest portion of these unlogged incidents, according to a report from Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS).

The report, released Thursday, shows that approximately 5% of crimes reported to police between April 2023 and March 2024 were not officially recorded. While crime recording rates have improved significantly—from 80.5% in 2014 to nearly 95% today—serious deficiencies remain, particularly in violence categories that disproportionately impact women.

Harassment, stalking, and controlling or coercive behavior make up nearly 38% of all violent crimes that go unrecorded. Unrecorded crimes are those reported to police but never formally classified as offenses, often resulting in no further police action.

According to HMICFRS guidelines, incidents that meet the legal threshold and lack credible evidence disproving them should be recorded as crimes. The Metropolitan Police notes that officers may choose not to log a crime if they believe an allegation to be false, but they are required to justify this decision and notify the victim.

The report highlights that these unrecorded violent crimes disproportionately affect women and girls, accounting for a significant share of the total unrecorded violence.

This data raises pressing concerns about police accountability and the need for further improvements in crime recording to ensure protection for vulnerable groups.

MENAFN02092025000045017169ID1110005812