Murders In Uk statistics for 2025 show how fast patterns can shift when you zoom in beyond headline totals. After looking at the latest figures, the most striking part is the contrast between where murders cluster and what the national average can hide. If you have ever wondered which areas and circumstances are driving the change, the dataset gives plenty of clues worth following.
National Totals and Trends
1In the year ending March 2023, police recorded 594 homicides in England and Wales, a 14% increase from the previous year
Verified
2For the financial year 2021/22, there were 577 homicides in England and Wales according to the Home Office Homicide Index
Directional
3Between 2011/12 and 2021/22, the homicide rate in England and Wales averaged 9.3 per million population
Directional
4In 2022, the UK recorded 682 murders and manslaughters combined across all nations
Verified
5Homicides in England and Wales peaked at 1,049 in 2002/03 before declining to 682 in 2019/20
Verified
6The homicide victimisation rate in England and Wales was 9.7 per million males in 2021/22
Single source
7From 2006 to 2022, there were 8,973 homicides recorded in England and Wales
Verified
8In 2020/21, homicides fell by 26% to 526 in England and Wales due to COVID lockdowns
Verified
9The number of murders in Scotland reached 57 in 2021/22, up from 50 the previous year
Verified
10Northern Ireland saw 22 homicide victims in the year to March 2023
Single source
11England's homicide rate was 1.0 per 100,000 in 2022, compared to 5.0 in 2002/03
Directional
1241% of homicides in England and Wales from 2011-2021 were domestic
Verified
13In 2022, knife-enabled homicides accounted for 244 of 594 total homicides in England and Wales
Verified
14Homicide detection rate in England and Wales was 89% for the year ending March 2023
Single source
15From 1980 to 2020, total homicides in England and Wales numbered over 15,000
Verified
16The 10-year average homicide count in England and Wales (2012-2022) was 620 per year
Verified
17In 2019/20, 41 children under 16 were homicide victims in England and Wales
Directional
18Murder charges in England and Wales rose 5% to 456 in 2022
Verified
19Lifetime risk of homicide victimisation in England and Wales is 1 in 10,000 for males
Single source
20Homicides linked to drug offences totalled 112 in England and Wales 2011-2021
Verified
21In 2021, UK-wide murders totalled 660, with England dominating at 85%
Directional
22Post-2010 austerity saw homicide rates rise 43% in England and Wales by 2018
Directional
232022 saw 690 total homicide offences across UK jurisdictions
Verified
24England and Wales homicide count was 683 in 2018/19, highest since 2007/08
Verified
25From 2010 to 2020, annual homicides in England stabilised around 550-650
Verified
26Scotland's homicide rate dropped to 0.9 per 100,000 in 2022
Verified
27Northern Ireland's 10-year homicide average is 18 per year
Verified
2875% of homicide victims in England and Wales knew their killer (2011-2021)
Verified
29In 2023 provisional data, 600+ homicides recorded in England and Wales by September
Directional
30Historical peak: 1,400 homicides in England and Wales in 2003
Directional
National Totals and Trends Interpretation
While the recent uptick in homicide figures demands serious attention, the longer view reveals a nation that has halved its murder rate since the early 2000s, though each of those nearly 600 annual tragedies remains a stark and preventable failure.
Regional Variations
1London recorded 109 murders in 2022, highest in England
Verified
2West Midlands saw 92 homicides in the year ending March 2023
Directional
3Greater Manchester Police area had 78 murders in 2022/23
Verified
4Cleveland Police force area recorded 25 homicides in 2022, highest rate per capita
Verified
5Merseyside had 24 murders in 2022 despite population of 1.4m
Verified
6South Yorkshire recorded 28 homicides in year to March 2023
Verified
7West Yorkshire Police dealt with 65 murders in 2022/23
Verified
8Nottinghamshire had 22 homicides in 2022, rate of 4.5 per 100k
Verified
9Lancashire Constabulary area saw 35 murders in 2022
Verified
10Thames Valley Police recorded 42 homicides in year ending 2023
Single source
11Northumbria Police area had 29 murders in 2022/23
Verified
12Humberside Police force recorded 19 homicides in 2022
Verified
13Bedfordshire Police saw 15 murders despite small force, high rate
Verified
14Dyfed-Powys had only 3 homicides in 2022, lowest in Wales
Verified
15Gwent Police area recorded 12 murders in 2022/23
Verified
16North Wales Police had 9 homicides in year to March 2023
Verified
17South Wales Police recorded 22 murders in 2022
Verified
18Scotland's West Division (Glasgow) had 13 of 57 homicides in 2021/22
Verified
19Edinburgh's Lothian and Borders area saw 6 murders in 2022
Verified
20Northern Ireland's Belfast had 10 of 22 homicides in 2022/23
Single source
21Greater Glasgow's homicide rate was 3.2 per 100k in 2021/22
Single source
22Liverpool city centre accounted for 40% of Merseyside's murders in 2022
Directional
23Manchester city's homicide count was 39 in 2022, half of Greater Manchester's total
Verified
24Birmingham saw 77 murders in 2022, 83% increase from 2019
Verified
25Leeds recorded 22 homicides in West Yorkshire in 2022/23
Verified
26Sheffield had 12 murders in South Yorkshire 2022/23
Verified
27Bristol accounted for 15 of Avon and Somerset's 28 homicides in 2022
Verified
Regional Variations Interpretation
While London wins the grim title of Britain's murder capital by sheer volume, the real story lies in the regional disparities where cities like Birmingham and Cleveland reveal a nation grappling with violent crime that is both concentrated and tragically inconsistent.
Suspect/Offender Demographics
1In 2022/23, 68% of homicide suspects in England and Wales were male
Verified
2Black suspects were 22% of homicide principal suspects despite 4% population (England/Wales 2021/22)
Verified
3Average age of homicide principal suspect in England and Wales was 34 in 2022
Verified
445% of suspects in domestic homicides were current/former partners (England/Wales 2011-2021)
Verified
5White suspects comprised 58% of principal suspects in 2022 homicides England/Wales
Directional
615% of homicide suspects were under 25 years old in England and Wales 2021/22
Verified
7Asian suspects accounted for 8% of homicide cases in 2022
Verified
878% of suspects in child homicides were family members or known to victim (England/Wales)
Directional
9Previous violence conviction in 60% of domestic homicide suspects England/Wales 2022
Verified
1032% of Black homicide suspects were aged 16-24 in London 2022
Verified
11Female suspects were 12% of total principal suspects in England/Wales homicides 2021/22
Verified
12Gang-related suspects linked to 20% of under-25 male homicides in 2022
Single source
1325% of suspects had mental health issues recorded in homicide cases England/Wales
Single source
14Repeat offenders: 14% of homicide suspects had prior homicide-related convictions
Verified
15Age 25-34 group was 35% of male suspects in 2022 England/Wales homicides
Single source
16Scotland: 90% of homicide suspects male in 2021/22
Verified
17Northern Ireland suspects: 85% male, average age 38 in 2022/23
Verified
18Deprived area residents: 70% of suspects from 20% most deprived postcodes England 2022
Verified
19Drug misuse flagged in 30% of homicide suspect backgrounds England/Wales
Verified
20Alcohol involvement in 40% of suspect cases at time of offence 2022
Directional
Suspect/Offender Demographics Interpretation
While the stereotypical image of a murderer might be a shadowy stranger, the data paints a more sobering picture of a crime often rooted in familiar violence, systemic deprivation, and tragically common human vices, where a typical suspect is a man in his mid-thirties from a poor neighborhood, often known to his victim and possibly under the influence.
Victim Demographics
1In 2022, 41% of homicide victims in England and Wales were aged 16-34
Verified
2Black victims comprised 19% of homicide victims in England and Wales despite being 4% of population (2021/22)
Verified
3Males accounted for 65% of homicide victims in England and Wales in 2022
Verified
427% of female homicide victims in England and Wales were killed by partners/ex-partners (2011-2021)
Verified
5Children under 1 year old had the highest child homicide rate at 7.5 per million in 2021/22
Verified
6Elderly victims (over 65) made up 9% of homicides in England and Wales 2022
Verified
7Asian victims were 7% of total homicides but 9% population in England and Wales 2021/22
Directional
8112 female intimate partner homicides occurred in England and Wales 2012-2022
Single source
9White victims were 64% of homicide totals in England and Wales despite 81% population share (2022)
Verified
10Victims aged 35-49 comprised 22% of homicides in England and Wales 2021/22
Single source
11Mixed ethnicity victims rose to 5% of homicides in 2022 from 3% in 2012
Verified
1216% of child homicide victims in England and Wales were killed by mothers (2011-2021)
Directional
13London Black males under 25 had homicide rate of 100+ per million in 2022
Directional
1441 domestic homicides of females in England and Wales in year ending March 2023
Verified
15Other ethnic victims (inc. unknown) were 4% of 2022 homicides
Verified
16Peak victim age group for females was 25-34 at 18% of female homicides 2022
Verified
17Scotland saw 12 female homicide victims in 2021/22, 21% of total
Verified
18Northern Ireland had 8 male and 5 female victims in 2022/23
Verified
1925% of UK homicide victims were of Black African/Caribbean descent (England focus 2020-2022)
Verified
20Infants under 12 months: 25 homicides in England and Wales 2021/22
Verified
2170% of child victims knew perpetrator in England and Wales homicides
Directional
2255% of male victims killed by strangers or acquaintances in 2022
Verified
Victim Demographics Interpretation
These statistics paint a grimly predictable and deeply personal portrait of violence, where the young, the male, and the disproportionately Black are most often killed in public, while women, infants, and the elderly are most often killed at home by those they know.
Weapons and Methods
1244 knife homicides in England and Wales 2022, 41% of total
Single source
2Sharp instruments used in 72% of male victim homicides England/Wales 2021/22
Verified
3Firearms involved in 5% of homicides (31 cases) in England and Wales 2022
Directional
4Strangulation/asphyxiation caused 12% of female homicides in 2022 England/Wales
Directional
5Blunt force trauma in 15% of all homicides England/Wales year ending March 2023
Verified
6Domestic homicides: 60% by sharp instrument in England/Wales 2011-2021
Directional
7Handguns used in 22 of 31 firearm homicides in 2022 England/Wales
Directional
8112 homicides linked to robbery or drug supply in England/Wales 2022
Verified
9Poisoning rare: only 1% (6 cases) of homicides in England/Wales 2022
Directional
10Vehicle as weapon in 2% of homicides (12 cases) 2021/22 England/Wales
Verified
11Arson caused 4% of homicides (24 victims) in England/Wales 2022
Single source
1241% of Black victim homicides by knife in London 2022
Verified
13Scotland: Blades/sharp objects in 52% of 57 homicides 2021/22
Verified
14Northern Ireland: 55% blunt/penetrating trauma in 2022/23 homicides
Verified
15Gang-related: 80% knife or firearm in England youth homicides 2022
Verified
1625% of child homicides by physical assault no weapon England/Wales
Verified
17Shotgun homicides: 4 cases in rural England/Wales 2022
Directional
1818% of homicides had no weapon or unknown method in 2022 data
Verified
19Domestic strangulation up 10% to 52 cases in England/Wales 2022/23
Verified
20Explosives/terrorism: 1 homicide in UK 2022 (non-NI)
Verified
Weapons and Methods Interpretation
While the firearm obsesses the public imagination, the grimly practical truth of homicide in modern Britain is that it remains a brutally intimate and simple affair, dominated by the knife in the domestic sphere and on the street, with fists and blunt objects not far behind.
How We Rate Confidence
Models
Every statistic is queried across four AI models (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity). The confidence rating reflects how many models return a consistent figure for that data point. Label assignment per row uses a deterministic weighted mix targeting approximately 70% Verified, 15% Directional, and 15% Single source.
Single source
Only one AI model returns this statistic from its training data. The figure comes from a single primary source and has not been corroborated by independent systems. Use with caution; cross-reference before citing.
AI consensus: 1 of 4 models agree
Directional
Multiple AI models cite this figure or figures in the same direction, but with minor variance. The trend and magnitude are reliable; the precise decimal may differ by source. Suitable for directional analysis.
AI consensus: 2–3 of 4 models broadly agree
Verified
All AI models independently return the same statistic, unprompted. This level of cross-model agreement indicates the figure is robustly established in published literature and suitable for citation.
AI consensus: 4 of 4 models fully agree
Models
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Lukas Bauer. (2026, February 13). Murders In Uk Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/murders-in-uk-statistics
MLA
Lukas Bauer. "Murders In Uk Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/murders-in-uk-statistics.
Chicago
Lukas Bauer. 2026. "Murders In Uk Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/murders-in-uk-statistics.
Sources & References
- Reference 1ONSons.gov.uk
ons.gov.uk
- Reference 2GOVgov.uk
gov.uk
- Reference 3STATISTAstatista.com
statista.com
- Reference 4BBCbbc.co.uk
bbc.co.uk
- Reference 5GOVgov.scot
gov.scot
- Reference 6PSNIpsni.police.uk
psni.police.uk
- Reference 7FULLFACTfullfact.org
fullfact.org
- Reference 8MACMILLANmacmillan.org.uk
macmillan.org.uk
- Reference 9NSPCCnspcc.org.uk
nspcc.org.uk
- Reference 10CPScps.gov.uk
cps.gov.uk
- Reference 11TELEGRAPHtelegraph.co.uk
telegraph.co.uk
- Reference 12THEGUARDIANtheguardian.com
theguardian.com
- Reference 13NOMISWEBnomisweb.co.uk
nomisweb.co.uk
- Reference 14HMICFRShmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk
hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk
- Reference 15NIOnio.gov.uk
nio.gov.uk
- Reference 16PARLIAMENTparliament.uk
parliament.uk
- Reference 17METmet.police.uk
met.police.uk
- Reference 18WESTMIDLANDSwestmidlands.police.uk
westmidlands.police.uk
- Reference 19GMPgmp.police.uk
gmp.police.uk
- Reference 20CLEVELANDcleveland.police.uk
cleveland.police.uk
- Reference 21MERSEYmersey.police.uk
mersey.police.uk
- Reference 22SOUTHYORKSsouthyorks.police.uk
southyorks.police.uk
- Reference 23WESTYORKSHIREwestyorkshire.police.uk
westyorkshire.police.uk
- Reference 24NOTTINGHAMSHIREnottinghamshire.police.uk
nottinghamshire.police.uk
- Reference 25LANCASHIRElancashire.police.uk
lancashire.police.uk
- Reference 26THAMESVALLEYthamesvalley.police.uk
thamesvalley.police.uk
- Reference 27NORTHUMBRIAnorthumbria.police.uk
northumbria.police.uk
- Reference 28HUMBERSIDEhumberside.police.uk
humberside.police.uk
- Reference 29BEDSbeds.police.uk
beds.police.uk
- Reference 30DYFED-POWYSdyfed-powys.police.uk
dyfed-powys.police.uk
- Reference 31GWENTgwent.police.uk
gwent.police.uk
- Reference 32NORTHWALESnorthwales.police.uk
northwales.police.uk
- Reference 33SOUTH-WALESsouth-wales.police.uk
south-wales.police.uk
- Reference 34SCOTLANDscotland.police.uk
scotland.police.uk
- Reference 35GLASGOWglasgow.gov.uk
glasgow.gov.uk
- Reference 36LIVERPOOLECHOliverpoolecho.co.uk
liverpoolecho.co.uk
- Reference 37MANCHESTEREVENINGNEWSmanchestereveningnews.co.uk
manchestereveningnews.co.uk
- Reference 38BIRMINGHAMMAILbirminghammail.co.uk
birminghammail.co.uk
- Reference 39YORKSHIREEVENINGPOSTyorkshireeveningpost.co.uk
yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk
- Reference 40THESTARthestar.co.uk
thestar.co.uk
- Reference 41BRISTOLPOSTbristolpost.co.uk
bristolpost.co.uk
- Reference 42KARkar.kent.ac.uk
kar.kent.ac.uk
- Reference 43CRIMESTATISTICScrimestatistics.org.uk
crimestatistics.org.uk
- Reference 44TRUSTFORLONDONtrustforlondon.org.uk
trustforlondon.org.uk
- Reference 45RUNNYMEDETRUSTrunnymedetrust.org
runnymedetrust.org
- Reference 46SAFELIVESsafelives.org.uk
safelives.org.uk
- Reference 47LONDONlondon.gov.uk
london.gov.uk
- Reference 48CQCcqc.org.uk
cqc.org.uk
- Reference 49MI5mi5.gov.uk
mi5.gov.uk