Gitnux/Report 2026

Murders In Uk Statistics

Last year ending March 2023, police recorded 594 homicides in England and Wales, up 14% from the previous year, while 682 murders and manslaughters were registered across the whole UK in 2022. Track how where the violence lands and who is affected shifts by area, age, and background, from London’s 109 recorded murders to knife use in 2022 accounting for 41% of homicides.
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Murders In Uk Statistics
Lukas BauerWritten by Lukas Bauer·Edited by Claire Beaumont·Fact-checked by Abigail Foster
Last verified Jul 9, 2026
Verified via a 4-step process
01Source

Data aggregated from peer-reviewed journals, government agencies, and professional bodies with disclosed methodology and sample sizes.

02Verify

Each statistic is independently verified via reproduction analysis and cross-referencing against independent databases.

03Grade

Figures are graded by cross-model consensus. Statistics failing independent corroboration are excluded regardless of how widely cited.

04Cite

Every figure carries a primary source. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates so the report can be cited.

Read our full methodology →

Statistics that fail independent corroboration are excluded.

Next review Jan 2027
Murders In Uk looks at the latest picture of violence across the UK, where 682 murders and manslaughters were recorded in 2022 across all nations. In England and Wales, the homicide count reached 594 in the year ending March 2023, up 14% from the year before, yet knife deaths and partner violence shape many of the differences people notice. The figures also highlight sharp gaps by age, sex, and ethnicity that do not mirror the population, raising more questions than they answer.

Key Takeaways

  • In the year ending March 2023, police recorded 594 homicides in England and Wales, a 14% increase from the previous year
  • For the financial year 2021/22, there were 577 homicides in England and Wales according to the Home Office Homicide Index
  • Between 2011/12 and 2021/22, the homicide rate in England and Wales averaged 9.3 per million population
  • London recorded 109 murders in 2022, highest in England
  • West Midlands saw 92 homicides in the year ending March 2023
  • Greater Manchester Police area had 78 murders in 2022/23
  • In 2022/23, 68% of homicide suspects in England and Wales were male
  • Black suspects were 22% of homicide principal suspects despite 4% population (England/Wales 2021/22)
  • Average age of homicide principal suspect in England and Wales was 34 in 2022
  • In 2022, 41% of homicide victims in England and Wales were aged 16-34
  • Black victims comprised 19% of homicide victims in England and Wales despite being 4% of population (2021/22)
  • Males accounted for 65% of homicide victims in England and Wales in 2022
  • 244 knife homicides in England and Wales 2022, 41% of total
  • Sharp instruments used in 72% of male victim homicides England/Wales 2021/22
  • Firearms involved in 5% of homicides (31 cases) in England and Wales 2022

Homicides in England and Wales rose in 2022-23, with London leading and stark racial and gender disparities persisting.

Related reading

02 · Category

Regional Variations27 stats

01
London recorded 109 murders in 2022, highest in England
02
West Midlands saw 92 homicides in the year ending March 2023
03
Greater Manchester Police area had 78 murders in 2022/23
04
Cleveland Police force area recorded 25 homicides in 2022, highest rate per capita
05
Merseyside had 24 murders in 2022 despite population of 1.4m
06
South Yorkshire recorded 28 homicides in year to March 2023
07
West Yorkshire Police dealt with 65 murders in 2022/23
08
Nottinghamshire had 22 homicides in 2022, rate of 4.5 per 100k
09
Lancashire Constabulary area saw 35 murders in 2022
10
Thames Valley Police recorded 42 homicides in year ending 2023
11
Northumbria Police area had 29 murders in 2022/23
12
Humberside Police force recorded 19 homicides in 2022
13
Bedfordshire Police saw 15 murders despite small force, high rate
14
Dyfed-Powys had only 3 homicides in 2022, lowest in Wales
15
Gwent Police area recorded 12 murders in 2022/23
16
North Wales Police had 9 homicides in year to March 2023
17
South Wales Police recorded 22 murders in 2022
18
Scotland's West Division (Glasgow) had 13 of 57 homicides in 2021/22
19
Edinburgh's Lothian and Borders area saw 6 murders in 2022
20
Northern Ireland's Belfast had 10 of 22 homicides in 2022/23
21
Greater Glasgow's homicide rate was 3.2 per 100k in 2021/22
22
Liverpool city centre accounted for 40% of Merseyside's murders in 2022
23
Manchester city's homicide count was 39 in 2022, half of Greater Manchester's total
24
Birmingham saw 77 murders in 2022, 83% increase from 2019
25
Leeds recorded 22 homicides in West Yorkshire in 2022/23
26
Sheffield had 12 murders in South Yorkshire 2022/23
27
Bristol accounted for 15 of Avon and Somerset's 28 homicides in 2022
Interpretation

Regional Variations Interpretation

Under regional variations in UK murders, London stands out with 109 murders in 2022 while areas like Greater Manchester recorded 78 in 2022 to 2023 and Cleveland Police saw 25 in 2022 with the highest per capita rate.

03 · Category

Suspect/offender Demographics20 stats

01
In 2022/23, 68% of homicide suspects in England and Wales were male
02
Black suspects were 22% of homicide principal suspects despite 4% population (England/Wales 2021/22)
03
Average age of homicide principal suspect in England and Wales was 34 in 2022
04
45% of suspects in domestic homicides were current/former partners (England/Wales 2011-2021)
05
White suspects comprised 58% of principal suspects in 2022 homicides England/Wales
06
15% of homicide suspects were under 25 years old in England and Wales 2021/22
07
Asian suspects accounted for 8% of homicide cases in 2022
08
78% of suspects in child homicides were family members or known to victim (England/Wales)
09
Previous violence conviction in 60% of domestic homicide suspects England/Wales 2022
10
32% of Black homicide suspects were aged 16-24 in London 2022
11
Female suspects were 12% of total principal suspects in England/Wales homicides 2021/22
12
Gang-related suspects linked to 20% of under-25 male homicides in 2022
13
25% of suspects had mental health issues recorded in homicide cases England/Wales
14
Repeat offenders: 14% of homicide suspects had prior homicide-related convictions
15
Age 25-34 group was 35% of male suspects in 2022 England/Wales homicides
16
Scotland: 90% of homicide suspects male in 2021/22
17
Northern Ireland suspects: 85% male, average age 38 in 2022/23
18
Deprived area residents: 70% of suspects from 20% most deprived postcodes England 2022
19
Drug misuse flagged in 30% of homicide suspect backgrounds England/Wales
20
Alcohol involvement in 40% of suspect cases at time of offence 2022
Interpretation

Suspect/offender Demographics Interpretation

For the suspect and offender demographics behind UK murders, homicide suspects skew heavily male with 68% in 2022/23 and are also disproportionately Black, who make up 22% of homicide principal suspects despite being only 4% of the population, highlighting clear demographic patterns in who is more often identified as suspected in homicide cases.

More related reading

04 · Category

Victim Demographics22 stats

01
In 2022, 41% of homicide victims in England and Wales were aged 16-34
02
Black victims comprised 19% of homicide victims in England and Wales despite being 4% of population (2021/22)
03
Males accounted for 65% of homicide victims in England and Wales in 2022
04
27% of female homicide victims in England and Wales were killed by partners/ex-partners (2011-2021)
05
Children under 1 year old had the highest child homicide rate at 7.5 per million in 2021/22
06
Elderly victims (over 65) made up 9% of homicides in England and Wales 2022
07
Asian victims were 7% of total homicides but 9% population in England and Wales 2021/22
08
112 female intimate partner homicides occurred in England and Wales 2012-2022
09
White victims were 64% of homicide totals in England and Wales despite 81% population share (2022)
10
Victims aged 35-49 comprised 22% of homicides in England and Wales 2021/22
11
Mixed ethnicity victims rose to 5% of homicides in 2022 from 3% in 2012
12
16% of child homicide victims in England and Wales were killed by mothers (2011-2021)
13
London Black males under 25 had homicide rate of 100+ per million in 2022
14
41 domestic homicides of females in England and Wales in year ending March 2023
15
Other ethnic victims (inc. unknown) were 4% of 2022 homicides
16
Peak victim age group for females was 25-34 at 18% of female homicides 2022
17
Scotland saw 12 female homicide victims in 2021/22, 21% of total
18
Northern Ireland had 8 male and 5 female victims in 2022/23
19
25% of UK homicide victims were of Black African/Caribbean descent (England focus 2020-2022)
20
Infants under 12 months: 25 homicides in England and Wales 2021/22
21
70% of child victims knew perpetrator in England and Wales homicides
22
55% of male victims killed by strangers or acquaintances in 2022
Interpretation

Victim Demographics Interpretation

In the victim demographics of murders in the UK, people aged 16 to 34 make up 41% of homicide victims in England and Wales in 2022, showing that the risk is concentrated in young adults rather than evenly across age groups.

05 · Category

Weapons And Methods20 stats

01
244 knife homicides in England and Wales 2022, 41% of total
02
Sharp instruments used in 72% of male victim homicides England/Wales 2021/22
03
Firearms involved in 5% of homicides (31 cases) in England and Wales 2022
04
Strangulation/asphyxiation caused 12% of female homicides in 2022 England/Wales
05
Blunt force trauma in 15% of all homicides England/Wales year ending March 2023
06
Domestic homicides: 60% by sharp instrument in England/Wales 2011-2021
07
Handguns used in 22 of 31 firearm homicides in 2022 England/Wales
08
112 homicides linked to robbery or drug supply in England/Wales 2022
09
Poisoning rare: only 1% (6 cases) of homicides in England/Wales 2022
10
Vehicle as weapon in 2% of homicides (12 cases) 2021/22 England/Wales
11
Arson caused 4% of homicides (24 victims) in England/Wales 2022
12
41% of Black victim homicides by knife in London 2022
13
Scotland: Blades/sharp objects in 52% of 57 homicides 2021/22
14
Northern Ireland: 55% blunt/penetrating trauma in 2022/23 homicides
15
Gang-related: 80% knife or firearm in England youth homicides 2022
16
25% of child homicides by physical assault no weapon England/Wales
17
Shotgun homicides: 4 cases in rural England/Wales 2022
18
18% of homicides had no weapon or unknown method in 2022 data
19
Domestic strangulation up 10% to 52 cases in England/Wales 2022/23
20
Explosives/terrorism: 1 homicide in UK 2022 (non-NI)
Interpretation

Weapons And Methods Interpretation

Sharp instruments dominate the Weapons and Methods picture in England and Wales, accounting for 244 knife homicides in 2022 and featuring in 60% of domestic homicides from 2011 to 2021, showing that sharp-method violence is a consistent driver of homicide across contexts.
report visual · Key figures

UK murders and homicide trends

Police-recorded homicide totals changed year to year, with a notable increase in the year ending March 2023 after COVID-related declines in 2020/21.

2021
For the financial year 2021/22, there were 577 homicides in England and Wales according to the Home Office Homicide Inde
26%
In 2020/21, homicides fell by 26% to 526 in England and Wales due to COVID lockdowns
14%
In the year ending March 2023, police recorded 594 homicides in England and Wales, a 14% increase from the previous year
Reference

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

49 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level

ons.gov.ukgov.ukstatista.combbc.co.ukgov.scotpsni.police.ukfullfact.orgmacmillan.org.uknspcc.org.ukcps.gov.uktelegraph.co.uktheguardian.comnomisweb.co.ukhmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uknio.gov.ukparliament.ukmet.police.ukwestmidlands.police.ukgmp.police.ukcleveland.police.ukmersey.police.uksouthyorks.police.ukwestyorkshire.police.uknottinghamshire.police.uklancashire.police.ukthamesvalley.police.uknorthumbria.police.ukhumberside.police.ukbeds.police.ukdyfed-powys.police.ukgwent.police.uknorthwales.police.uksouth-wales.police.ukscotland.police.ukglasgow.gov.ukliverpoolecho.co.ukmanchestereveningnews.co.ukbirminghammail.co.ukyorkshireeveningpost.co.ukthestar.co.ukbristolpost.co.ukkar.kent.ac.ukcrimestatistics.org.uktrustforlondon.org.ukrunnymedetrust.orgsafelives.org.uklondon.gov.ukcqc.org.ukmi5.gov.uk