Our Performance

Last updated 23rd March 2026.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland has published its latest recorded statistics from 1st 1st February 2025 to 31st January 2026.

These figures provide an insight into recorded numbers around crime, anti-social behaviour, domestic abuse, hate-motivated crime and drug seizures.  

There were 93,529 crimes recorded in Northern Ireland, a decrease of 3170  (-3.3%) when compared with the previous 12 months.  The level recorded in the latest 12 months is one of the lowest since 2020/21 (when lockdown restrictions were in place).

There were 44,159 anti-social behaviour incidents in Northern Ireland, an increase of 198 (0.5%) when compared with the previous 12 months. Despite the increase, this remains one of the lowest 12 month figures since the data series began in 2006/07.

Police Recorded Crime in Northern Ireland

In the 12 months from 1st February 2025 to 31st January 2026:

• There were 93,529 crimes recorded in Northern Ireland, a decrease of 3,170 (-3.3%) when compared with the previous 12 months. 
• The number of crimes recorded in the latest 12 months is the lowest since the start of the data series (April 1998). 
• Each month February 2025 to January 2025, with the exception of August 2025, recorded lower levels than the same months in the previous year. 
• The level in August 2025 was 304 (+3.9%) higher than August 2024. 
• All policing districts experienced a lower level of crime with the exception of Ards and North Down, Newry, Mourne and Down and Causeway Coast and Glens. 
• Lower crime levels were seen in violence against the person. The largest volume and percentage decrease was seen in violence with injury. 
• Lower crime levels were also seen across burglary, theft, criminal damage, drug offences and public order offences. 
• Higher crime levels were seen in sexual offences, robbery, possession of weapons offences and miscellaneous crimes against society.

We are committed to providing a high quality service to victims of crime and we undertake a victim satisfaction survey to monitor how well we are delivering our services and to identify areas for improvement.

Source: Police Recorded Crime in Northern Ireland - Update to 31st January 2026

Drug Seizure Statistics in Northern Ireland 

Details of the number of drug seizures and drug related arrests is available on our Drug Seizure Statistics page. 

The number of drug seizure incidents recorded by the police has shown a mainly upwards trend between 2006/07 and 2022/23, and a declining trend from 2023/24 onwards. 

Drug-related arrests generally increased between 2006/07 and 2019/20. A fall in each of 2020/21 and 2021/22 was followed by an increase in both 2022/23 and 2023/24; 2024/25 has shown a further decrease. 

In the 12 months from 1st January 2025 to 31st December 2025:

• There were 7,388 drug seizure incidents, an increase of 125 (1.7 per cent) on the previous 12 months. 
• There was an increase in the number of Class A and Class B seizure incidents and a fall in the number of Class C seizure incidents. 
• Cannabis (Class B) was the most commonly seized drug, followed by cocaine (Class A), and pregabalin (Class C). 
• Six policing districts showed a rise in the number of drug seizure incidents. 
• There were 3,139 drug-related arrests, a decrease of 165 (5.0 per cent) when compared with the previous 12 months. 
• Six policing districts showed a decrease in drug-related arrests.

Source: Police Recorded Drug Seizures  And Arrests in Northern Ireland - Update to 31st December 2025

Anti-Social Behaviour Incidents Recorded by the Police in Northern Ireland

The number of anti-social behaviour incidents had been trending downwards since the start of the data series in 2006/07, with levels falling to around three fifths of the initial total by the end of 2019/20. The introduction of lockdown measures and other restrictions relating to the Covid-19 pandemic led to a substantial increase in levels of anti-social behaviour recorded during 2020/21. Following the removal of restrictions, the downwards trend in anti-social behaviour incidents resumed, with 2024/25 recording the lowest financial year level in the data series. 

In the 12 months from 1st February 2025 to 31st January 2026: 

• There were 44,159 anti-social behaviour incidents in Northern Ireland, an increase of 198 (0.5%) when compared with the previous 12 months. Despite the increase, this remains one of the lowest 12 month figures since the data series began in 2006/07. 
• Seven of the months between January and December 2025 recorded the lowest levels of anti-social behaviour for those months since the start of the data series in April 2006. Of the remaining months, April 2025 recorded the second lowest level, while March, July and August 2025, and January 2026 recorded the third lowest levels. 
• Six policing districts experienced higher levels of anti social behaviour. 
• Six policing districts experienced a decrease in levels of anti-social behaviour between December 2025 and January 2026.

Source: Anti-Social Behaviour Incidents recorded by the Police in Northern Ireland - Update to 31st January 2026 

Figures used are for the period April 2024 - March 2025 (the most recent comparable statistics).

Northern Ireland has the lowest crime rate when compared with all other police forces in England and Wales.

Figures used are for Financial Year April 2024 - September 2024.

Crime rates in Northern Ireland (NI) are significantly lower than in England and Wales*. This means that people and businesses here are less likely to be a victim of crime.

Figures for the financial year ending June 2024 show the Police Service of Northern Ireland consistently has better investigative outcomes than those in England and Wales. 

We are very pleased with this performance and are working hard to keep it that way.

Sources:

*NI rate sourced from Police Recorded Crime Bulletins.  E&W rate sourced from the Office for National Statistics.

Despite the very challenging policing environment in Northern Ireland it is important to emphasise that our work goes on; officers and staff continue to deliver for communities in spite of the current relentless demands and pressures.

We regularly update our 'News' section with details of proactive policing operations and significant court outcomes.

In the 12 months from 1st December 2024 to 30th November 2025:

• There were 36,107 detections for motoring offences in Northern Ireland, of which 97% were dealt with by means of a fixed penalty notice or referral for prosecution. 
• The remaining 3% (985) resulted in the completion of a speed awareness or safer driver course. 
• Total detections decreased by 3% on the 37,306 detections recorded in the previous 12 months, with notable reductions across a number of offence groups including speeding and failing to stop / remain / report collision offences. 
• Seven of the 19 offence groups showed an increase in detections over the year, in particular the construction and use group which rose by 34% to 3,681, representing an increase of 930 detections. 
• The largest offence group was insurance offences with 6,244 which, along with speeding (4,454) accounted for 30% of the total detections. 
• The highest speed detected by PSNI officers in the latest 12 months was 143mph, on the M2 Rathbeg Southbound, Antrim.

Source: Motoring Offence Statistics for Northern Ireland - 1st December 2024 to 30th November 2025

Operation Lifesaver - 'Slow Down and Save Lives'

Road Safety is a key policing priority and the ‘Fatal Five’ is important messaging relating to this and speeding is the main contributory reasons why people are dying on our roads. 

Sadly 18* people have lost their lives on our roads since January this year (*figures up until 23/3/26). In the calendar year 2025 a total of 56 people died in road traffic collisions.  Fatal and serious collisions, over the last year, have devastated families and communities, left loved ones dealing with unimaginable grief and others with life changing injuries and we know that speeding was the main causation factor in close to 10 per cent of cases, and a contributory factor in many other collisions.

Image: Chief Superintendent Sam Donaldson and Chief Inspector Celeste Simpson at the Operation Lifesaver launch on 16 April 2025.   

Speed can cause crashes, all of us who drive have a responsibility to keep everyone safe on the roads and help save lives. This means sticking to the speed limits, paying attention on the road, slowing down and taking our time.”

The Chief Constable's monthly accountability report to the Northern Ireland Policing Board outlines some of the excellent work undertaken by your Police Service to keep people safe.

The April Accountability Report focuses mainly on the findings of a recent Police Ombudsman report examining abuse of position for sexual purposes, alongside the wider issues of misogyny within policing and femicide in Northern Ireland. 

Chief Constable Jon Boutcher said "These are serious matters that go to the heart of public and stakeholder confidence and the standards rightly expected of the PSNI. Abuse of position for sexual purposes is wholly unacceptable. It is a serious breach of trust and a clear abuse of authority. Where it occurs, it causes significant harm to victims and undermines confidence and the legitimacy of policing."

"I acknowledge the findings of the Ombudsman’s report and the learning it provides. While it identifies serious individual misconduct, it also recognises the work undertaken to strengthen professional standards, improve vetting and misconduct processes and ensure that learning from past failures is acted upon. I am determined to shine a light on and better understand the true extent of sexism and misogyny within the PSNI and wider society. It is essential that policing in Northern Ireland is regarded as both an exemplar in addressing Violence Against Women and Girls and has a workforce where any inappropriate conduct is not tolerated."

Further significant investigations and court outcomes are highlighted from page 30 in the Chief Constable's report.