Recent Highlights
Crime Rates in Northern Ireland
Crime rates in Northern Ireland are significantly lower than in England and Wales*. This means that people and businesses here are less likely to be a victim of crime.
Our Performance
His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary Review
According to the most recent review by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, Northern Ireland stands out as one of the safest places to live in the UK due to the high standard of Police Service investigations, particularly for the most serious crime.
Read the report online58.6
crimes for every 1,000 people in Northern Ireland.
93.6
crimes for every 1,000 people in England and Wales.
Recorded Crime Outcomes
We are incredibly proud of our performance investigating crime and getting justice for victims.
Latest figures for 2022/23 show the Police Service of Northern Ireland consistently has better investigative outcomes than those in England and Wales. Proportionally, compared to England and Wales**:
- We charge or summons to court three times as many people. That is 22.2% in Northern Ireland compared to 7.2% in England and Wales.***
- Twice as many of our cases are settled without going to court e.g. via community resolution - 8.8% in Northern Ireland compared to 4.0% in England and Wales.
- The proportion of investigations where we are unable to identify a suspect is half of what it is in England and Wales. In Northern Ireland, the figure is 1 in 5 and in England and Wales it is 2 in five investigations.
We are very pleased with this performance and are working hard to keep it that way.
Our Activity
September was a turbulent month for the Police Service and saw the resignation of the Chief Constable on 4th September. However, it is important to emphasise that the work of policing goes on; officers and staff are continuing to deliver for communities in spite of the current pressures.
Accountability Report and Drug Seizures
This month’s accountability report to the Northern Ireland Policing Board shows some of the excellent work of your Police Service to keep people safe.
Perhaps most notably, officers from our Organised Crime Branch, in the first five months of this year, have seized over £7 million of drugs. For comparison, we seized £9.2 million worth of drugs in the whole of last year.
This team has also recovered £0.5 million in cash and made 124 arrests since April.
These drugs have been taken off our streets and this money is now out of the hands of those who are causing significant harm to the community.
Investigation into the illicit supply of drugs offered via social media messaging apps
Detectives from the Police Service’s Organised Crime Branch are investigating the illicit supply of drugs offered via social media messaging apps. As part of Operation Dealbreaker, the investigation focuses on criminals offering drugs for sale on messaging apps that have been identified from mobiles seized within the Greater Belfast area.
Read more about this investigation and how this operation is just one part of our ongoing collective efforts to tackle the scourge of drugs in our communities.
Latest Campaigns
Hate Crime Awareness Week: 14th – 21st October
During this crucial week, we'll be raising awareness about hate crimes, their impact, and how we can all play a role in preventing them.
Sextortion
Find out how to protect yourself from webcam blackmail.
Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG)
Learn what actions we have taken to tackle violence against women and girls.
Sources
*NI rate sourced from Annual trends in Police recorded crime 1998/99 to 2022/23.
E&W rate sourced from the Office of National Statistics.
**NI figures sourced from Annual trends in Police recorded crime 1998/99 to 2022/23.
E&W figures sourced from Criminal Justice Delivery Data Dashboard.
***Charging conditions in Northern Ireland are different to those in England and Wales. In Northern Ireland, police can charge a suspect at a much earlier stage and without the approval of a prosecutor. Each charge made by the Police Service of Northern Ireland is reviewed by the Public Prosecution Service.