Recent Highlights
Last updated 2nd February 2025.
Last updated 2nd February 2025.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland has published its latest recorded statistics for the 12 months from 1st January 2024 - 31st December 2024.
These figures provide an insight into recorded numbers around crime, anti-social behaviour, domestic abuse, hate-motivated crime and drug seizures.
There were 97,102 crimes recorded in Northern Ireland, a decrease of 10,187 (-9.5%) when compared with the previous 12 months. The level recorded in the latest 12 months is the lowest since lockdown restrictions were in place during 2020 and 2021.
There were 44020 anti-social behaviour incidents in Northern Ireland, a decrease of 1887 (or -4.1%) when compared with the previous 12 months. This is the fifth lowest 12 month figure since the data series began in 2006/07.
In the 12 months from 1st January 2024 to 31st December 2024:
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 Bulleting Period Ending 31st December 2024
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 since 2006/07, with the only decreases seen in 2016/17 and 2023/24.
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.
In 12 months from 1st January 2024 to 31st December 2024:
Source: Drug Seizure Statistics Period Ending 31st December 2024
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 has resumed, with 2023/24 recording the lowest financial year level in the data series.
In the 12 months from 1st January 2024 to 31st December 2024:
Figures used are for the period July 2023 - June 2024.
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 - June 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.
Proportionally, compared to England and Wales (E&W)**:
Please note: Above figures are indicative but not directly comparable.
We are very pleased with this performance and are working hard to keep it that way.
Sources:
*NI rate sourced from Police Recorded Crime Bulletin Period Ending 31st March 2024. E&W rate sourced from the Office for National Statistics.
**NI figures sourced from Police Recorded Crime Bulletin Period Ending 31st March 2024. E&W figures sourced from Home Office open data tables.
***Charging conditions in NI are different to those in E&W. In NI, 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.
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 2023 to 30th November 2024:
Source: Motoring Offence Statistics for Northern Ireland 1st December 2023 to 30th November 2024
Drug Wipes Devices
Road Safety is a key policing priority and the ‘Fatal Five’ is important messaging relating to this.
We are dedicated to continually improving road safety and robustly challenging those who recklessly risk the safety of road users and the wider public. Our Roads Policing Officers have now been equipped with drug wipes devices which indicate whether drivers are using vehicles whilst under the influence of illegal substances. This important piece of equipment will allow us to target those using illegal drugs while driving and ensure they face the full rigours of the law for their lack of care for the safety of fellow citizens.
Image: Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd MLA and Assistant Chief Constable Melanie Jones
Sadly 5* people have lost their lives on our roads since January this year (*figures up until 2/2/25). In the calendar year 2024 a total of 69 people were died in road traffic collisions. Those who drive whilst intoxicated by drink or drugs risk increasing this tragic tally and officers will actively seek to challenge them at every opportunity.
The Chief Constable's monthly accountability report to the Northern Ireland Policing Board shows some of the excellent work undertaken by your Police Service to keep people safe.
On 29th October 2024, detectives conducted a search of a house in the Ballykinlar area and recovered suspected cocaine with an estimated street value of £100,000, suspected cannabis with a street value of approximately £15,000 and £45,000 in cash. A man has been arrested on suspicion of a number of drug related offences and possession of criminal property.
On 23rd October 2024, a man was sentenced to two years and three months for drug related offences and two years for Immigration offences – half to be served in custody and half on licence. This was the outcome of an investigation in 2018 that led to the recovery of cannabis with a value of over £2m.
On Friday 25th October 2024, two Belfast men and a man from England received custodial sentences of 45 months, six years and three years respectively, for drug related offences. This followed the recovery of 32kg of herbal cannabis, 7kg of cocaine and 5kg of ketamine at Larne Port in December 2021.
On 1st November 2024, two men and a woman were arrested on suspicion of offences including brothel keeping and controlling prostitution, following the search at a property in the Annadale Embankment area of South Belfast. Two women believed to have been victims of human trafficking were located and are receiving the appropriate support. A sum of cash was also seized.
During a follow up search of a property in the Newtownards Road area, three suspected firearms were recovered. Enquiries are continuing
Public Protection Branch have led on the delivery of the ‘As One Programme’, facilitated by Graham Goulden, a leadership and violence prevention educator. During November almost 500 leaders within the Service have attended an online webinar aimed at starting conversations on how we further tackle Violence Against Women and Girls. Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive with everyone expressing how they feel this will improve their own roles, better equipping them to have those difficult conversations and step in where behaviour is not what it should be.
The next step is the ‘train the trainer’ sessions which commence in December and will see 12 30 of our trainers across Local Policing and Crime Departments upskilled to deliver the ‘As One Programme’.
On 18th October 2024, a 25-year-old man was sentenced to a period of 16 months in prison suspended for four years, and subjected to a Serious Crime Prevention Order (SCPO) for three years, having previously pleaded guilty to six counts under the Computer Misuse Act and one count under the Fraud Act.
This referred to a large-scale credential stuffing attack against a multi-international sports brand company during April 2020 that resulted in the compromise of 277,000 user accounts.
Further significant investigations and court outcomes are highlighted in the Chief Constable's report.
Read information on how to keep yourself, children and young people safe online.
Learn what actions we have taken to tackle violence against women and girls.