Crime Outcomes in England and Wales
Source: data.gov.uk (2016-01-28)

Crime outcomes recorded by police forces in England and Wales, (previously 'Crimes Detected in England and Wales').

Source agency: Home Office

Designation: National Statistics

Language: English

Alternative title: Crime Outcomes in England and Wales

Outcomes 
 
Crime Outcomes in England 
and Wales 2013/14 
(First edition) 
 
 
 
 Chris McKee 
 
17th July 2014 
HOSB: 01/14  
 
 
 
 
Home Office Statistical Bulletin 
Statistical Bulletins are prepared by 
staff in Home Office Statistics under 
the Code of Practice for Official 
Statistics and can be downloaded 
from the Home Office website:  
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisa
tions/home-office/about/statistics 
 
© Crown Copyright 2014  
You may re-use this information (not 
including logos) free of charge in 
any format or medium, under the 
terms of the Open Government 
Licence. To view this licence, visit  
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/o
pen-government-licence/  
or write to the Information Policy 
Team, The National Archives, Kew, 
London, TW9 4DU or e-mail:  
xxx@xxx.xx 
ISSN 1759 7005 
ISBN 978-1-78246-412-9 
 

 
 
 
 

Crime Outcomes in England and Wales 2013/14 
1 
 
Contents 
Page 
Important Information ........................................................................................................................... 3 
Further Information ............................................................................................................................... 4 
Executive Summary .............................................................................................................................. 5 
1 
Introduction .................................................................................................................. 6 
1.1 
Overview .............................................................................................................. 6 
1.2 
Background: The Outcomes Framework ............................................................. 6 
1.3 
The Outcomes Framework Introduced in April 2013 ........................................... 6 
1.4 
The Broader Outcomes Framework Introduced in April 2014 ............................. 7 
1.5 
Interpreting the Outcomes Framework ................................................................ 9 
1.6 
Data Shown in this Bulletin ............................................................................  ...10 
1.7 
Police Recorded Crime ...................................................................................... 10 
1.8 
Consultation ...................................................................................................  ...11 
2 
Outcomes Statistics for 2013/14 .............................................................................. 12 
2.1 
Introduction ........................................................................................................ 12 
2.2 
Outcome Numbers by Outcome Type and Offence Group ............................... 13 
2.3 
Fraud Outcomes Data – Experimental Statistics............................................... 15 
3 
Future plans for Reporting on Outcomes ............................................................... 18 
3.1 
Outline of Intentions ........................................................................................... 18 
3.2 
Outcomes Based on the Full April 2014 Framework ......................................... 18 
3.3 
Outcomes of All Offences Recorded In A Period .............................................. 21 
3.4 
The Time Gap Between Offences and Outcomes............................................. 22 
3.5 
Future Timeliness of Outcomes Statistics ......................................................... 23 
3.6 
Consultation with Users ..................................................................................... 24 
Annex A 
No-Crimes in England and Wales ............................................................................ 25 
A1 
Definitions and Circumstances for No-Crimes .................................................. 25 
A2 
No-Crime Statistics ............................................................................................ 25 
A3 
HMIC Findings on the Quality of No-Criming .................................................... 26 
A4 
Comparing No-Crimes Across Police Forces .................................................... 26 

Crime Outcomes in England and Wales 2013/14 
2 
 
 
 
Annex B 
Former Detection Rates ............................................................................................ 27 
B1 
The Detection Rate Concept ............................................................................. 27 
B2 
Former Detection Rates .................................................................................... 27 
Annex C 
Crime Outcomes Data Quality .................................................................................. 29 
C1 
Introduction ........................................................................................................ 29 
C2 
Data Sources Used ........................................................................................... 29 
C3 
Data Validation Processes ................................................................................ 29 
C4 
The Home Office Data Hub ............................................................................... 30 
Tables 
 ..................................................................................................................................... 31 
Notes 
 ..................................................................................................................................... 38 
References 
 ..................................................................................................................................... 40 
 
 
 
 
 

Crime Outcomes in England and Wales 2013/14 
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Important information 
There was a significant change from the former detections framework to the new outcomes framework 
in April 2013, and subsequently there is a change to the way in which statistics in this bulletin are 
presented. Therefore the Chief Statistician and Head of Profession for Statistics in the Home Office, 
following discussions with the UK Statistics Authority, has requested that the Authority approve that 
this bulletin is designated as Official Statistics, rather than National Statistics. This reflects the 
transitional nature of this bulletin and the fact that we are taking this opportunity to consult users of the 
statistics on how the data should best be presented in future, prior to inviting the UK Statistics 
Authority to assess the new output. The correspondence between the Chief Statistician in the Home 
Office and the UK Statistics Authority can be found on the correspondence section of the UK Statistics 
Authority website: 
http://www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/reports---correspondence/correspondence 
This decision was also influenced by the recent changes to the designation of police recorded crime 
data. In accordance with the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007, statistics based on police 
recorded crime data were assessed against the Code of Practice for Official Statistics and found not to 
meet the required standard for designation as National Statistics. The full assessment report can be 
found on the UK Statistics Authority website: 
http://www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/assessment/assessment/assessment-reports/assessment-report-
268---statistics-on-crime-in-england-and-wales.pdf  
Given that the outcomes data come from the same source as police recorded crime data, i.e. the 
returns sent in by police forces, the issues raised by the UK Statistics Authority in their assessment of 
crime data are also relevant for the outcomes data.   
We have made every effort to ensure that these statistics: meet identified user needs (including 
providing new analysis and greater transparency); are well explained and readily accessible; are 
produced according to sound methods; and are managed impartially and objectively in the public 
interest. However, we are committed to developing and evaluating them further over the next year, 
based on further communication with both the data providers (police forces) and users of the statistics. 
It is then our intention that the statistics will be assessed, with a view to them gaining National 
Statistics status. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Crime Outcomes in England and Wales 2013/14 
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Further information 
The “Crimes detected in England and Wales, 2012/13” bulletin is available from: 
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/crimes-detected-in-england-and-wales  
 
Copies of other Home Office publications (including crime statistics releases prior to April 2012) are 
available from: 
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/home-office/series/crime-statistics#publications 
 
Copies of crime statistics publications from April 2012 are available from the Office for National 
Statistics website: http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/taxonomy/index.html?nscl=Crime+and+Justice 
 
This includes the User Guide to Crime Statistics, a useful reference guide with explanatory notes 
regarding the issues and classifications that are key to the production and presentation of the crime 
statistics. 
 
The dates of forthcoming publications are pre-announced and can be found via the UK National 
Statistics Publication Hub: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/hub/index.html 
 
For further information about police recorded crime statistics, please email: 
xxx@xxx.xx or write to:  
Home Office Statistics, 1st Floor, Peel Building, 2 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DF. 
Home Office Responsible Statistician 
David Blunt, Chief Statistician and Head of Profession for Statistics 
Contact via xxx@xxx.xx 
This statistical bulletin is produced to the highest professional standards and is free from political 
interference. It has been produced by statisticians working in the Home Office Statistics Unit in 
accordance with the Home Office’s Statement of Compliance with the Code of Practice for Official 
Statistics, which covers our policy on revisions and other matters. The Home Office Statistics Unit 
works under the direct line management of the Home Office Chief Statistician, who reports to the 
National Statistician with respect to all professional statistical matters. 

Crime Outcomes in England and Wales 2013/14 
5 
 
Executive Summary 
BACKGROUND - THE NEW OUTCOMES FRAMEWORK 
 
A new, broader outcomes framework was introduced in two phases from April 2013. This 
framework, containing 19 categories, covers the full range of ways in which the police can 
deal with a crime. 
 
Full data based on this new framework are not yet available. However, in this bulletin 
preliminary findings based on partial data are presented, and plans for the July 2015 bulletin 
are outlined.  
2013/14 OUTCOMES DATA 
The key findings from the 2013/14 outcomes data were: 
 
Between 2012/13 and 2013/14 the proportion of all offences dealt with by a charge/summons 
increased from 16.5 per cent to 17.2 per cent, mainly due to an increase in the number of theft 
offences dealt with in this way. This is the highest rate since the introduction of the National 
Crime Recording Standard (NCRS) in 2002/03.  
 
 
The change in the charge/summons rate varied considerably by offence type, generally 
reflecting the changes in recorded crime between the two years. This was indicated by the 
charge/summons rates remaining fairly similar. The number of charge/summons increased for 
theft offences (up 6%), violent offences (up 6%), and sexual offences (up 17%), but fell for 
robbery (down 8%) and criminal damage offences (down 4%).  
 
 
Charge/summons rates vary considerably by offence type. Over two thirds (68%) of 
‘possession of weapons’ offences were dealt with via a charge/summons, while around one in 
nine (11%) of theft offences were.  
 
 
The number of offences dealt with by a caution in 2013/14 fell for all offence types compared 
with the previous year, with a particularly large percentage fall for robbery offences (down 
41%, from 282 to 166). This was partly due to changes in the guidance on issuing cautions. 
INTENTIONS FOR THE JULY 2015 BULLETIN 
Next year the Home Office intends to publish analysis of outcomes in two main ways: 
1. All outcomes assigned during the previous financial year (2014/15). This will be based on the 
broader outcomes framework introduced in April 2014 (outcomes 1-19). Preliminary analysis 
is presented in section 3.2. 
 
2. The subset of outcomes that relate to offences recorded in 2014/15 i.e. excluding those 
outcomes that relate to offences from previous years. This would indicate, for example, the 
proportion of offences that resulted in a charge/summons, the proportion that resulted in a 
suspect not being identified, and the proportion that were still under investigation. Preliminary 
analysis is presented in section 3.3. 
Additionally, the Home Office also intends to present analysis on the time between offences being 
recorded and an outcome being assigned to them. Preliminary analysis is presented in section 3.4. 
 
 
 
 

Crime Outcomes in England and Wales 2013/14 
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1 - Introduction 
1.1 – OVERVIEW 
This bulletin reports on the outcomes of crimes recorded by the 43 police forces in England and 
Wales, plus the British Transport Police. It replaces the annual detections bulletin following the 
introduction of the new outcomes framework in April 2013. The move from detections to outcomes is a 
significant change, with an emphasis on greater transparency on how all crimes recorded by the police 
are dealt with. The previous focus on detections (i.e. crimes resolved via a sanction against the 
offender, such as a charge, summons or caution) gave a partial picture of the work police do to 
investigate and resolve crime.   
This publication represents the transition from the old detections bulletin to the new outcomes 
framework. In section 1.8 we describe our intentions to consult with users of these statistics on how 
outcomes data are presented in the future. 
 
1.2 – BACKGROUND: THE OUTCOMES FRAMEWORK 
In October 2012, a public consultation was launched to propose a new framework for recorded crime 
outcomes, which would replace the existing detections framework. The majority of respondents 
supported the proposals for this new framework and agreed that it would provide increased 
transparency on how crimes are dealt with by the police. As discussed in sections 1.4 and 1.5, the 
new framework provides a more complete set of information on how the police deal with crime, with all 
crimes now assigned an outcome. 
The Government response to this consultation was published in March 2013, with the Government 
committing to adopt this new framework. This consultation response can be found here: 
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/157796/consultation-
response.pdf  
 
1.3 – THE OUTCOMES FRAMEWORK INTRODUCED IN APRIL 2013 
Following the consultation, the Government introduced a new crime outcomes framework in April 
2013. Given that there was some disagreement in the consultation responses on how to deal with 
cases where no further action was taken by the police, the Government decided to adopt a phased 
approach to implementing the new framework. This allowed further discussion with the police and 
other stakeholders to ensure that the content and terminology used for the final set of additional 
outcomes was based on a full understanding of their impact. 
The outcomes framework introduced in April 2013 therefore did not cover cases where the police took 
no further action. It did, however, expand the existing detections framework, by providing more detail 
on out of court disposals. Importantly, data on community resolutions were collected from all police 
forces on a mandatory basis, having previously been a voluntary collection. 
This framework was therefore an important first step in the transition to a full set of crime outcomes in 
April 2014 (see section 1.4). The outcomes framework introduced in April 2013 can be seen in table 
1.1, alongside the detections framework that it replaced. 
 
 

Crime Outcomes in England and Wales 2013/14 
7 
 
1.4 – THE BROADER OUTCOMES FRAMEWORK INTRODUCED IN APRIL 2014 
In late 2013, the Government finalised the broader outcomes framework that would be introduced in 
April 2014. This broader framework builds on the nine categories included in the April 2013 outcomes 
framework, by adding a further ten outcomes. These covered a range of scenarios where a crime 
would previously have been classed as ‘undetected’ or ‘no further action taken’, and therefore never 
received a formal ‘outcome’ in the published figures. The new, expanded framework further increases 
the transparency of police recorded crime data, with every recorded crime now given an outcome. 
Therefore it will be possible to see the outcome assigned to every crime that is dealt with by the 
police. 
 
It is important to bear in mind that at any given time, there will also be a subset of offences where the 
investigation of the crime is still ongoing and an outcome has not yet been assigned. Therefore while 
every crime will eventually be given an outcome under the April 2014 framework, this may take some 
time while the crimes are investigated. Data on outcomes for a given period will therefore be subject to 
ongoing revisions as investigations into crimes are completed and outcomes are assigned. This is 
discussed further in section 3.3. 
Table 1.1 shows the three frameworks alongside each other for comparison: 
 
The detections framework in place until April 2013 (outcomes 1-6) 
 
The outcomes framework in place between April 2013 and March 2014 (outcomes 1-9) 
 
The broader outcomes framework in place from April 2014 onwards (outcomes 1-19) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Crime Outcomes in England and Wales 2013/14 
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Table 1.1: Detection types in place prior to April 2013 and the outcomes frameworks in place 
thereafter 
Detections framework – prior to 
April 2013 (outcomes 1-6) 
Outcomes framework – April 2013 
to March 2014 (outcomes 1-9) 
Outcomes framework – April 2014 
onwards (outcomes 1-19) 
1. Charge/Summons        
1. Charge/Summons 
1. Charge/Summons 
2. Caution 
2. Caution – youths 
2. Caution – youths 
3. Caution – adults 
3. Caution – adults 
3. Taken into consideration (TIC) – 
previously recorded 
4. Taken into consideration (TIC) 
 
4. Taken into consideration (TIC) 
 
4. Taken into consideration (TIC) – not 
previously recorded    
5. Fixed Penalty Notices 
6. Penalty Notices for Disorder 
6. Penalty Notices for Disorder 
6. Other 
5. The Offender has Died (indictable 
only/sexual offences) 
5. The Offender has Died (all offences) 
7. Cannabis Warning 
7. Cannabis Warning 
8. Community Resolution 
8. Community Resolution 
9. Prosecution not in the public interest 
(CPS) (indictable only offences) 
9. Prosecution not in the public interest (CPS) (all 
offences) 
Data not collected by the Home Office 
Data not collected by the Home Office 
10. Formal action against the offender is not in the 
public interest (Police decision) 
Data not collected by the Home Office 
Data not collected by the Home Office 
11. Prosecution prevented - Named suspect 
identified but is below the age of criminal 
responsibility 
Data not collected by the Home Office 
Data not collected by the Home Office 
12. Prosecution prevented - Named suspect 
identified but is too ill (physical or mental health) to 
prosecute 
Data not collected by the Home Office 
Data not collected by the Home Office 
13. Prosecution prevented - Named suspect 
identified but victim or key witness is dead or too ill 
to give evidence 
Data not collected by the Home Office 
Data not collected by the Home Office 
14. Evidential Difficulties Victim Based – Named 
suspect not identified: The crime is confirmed but 
the victim either declines/ or is unable to support 
further police investigation to identify the offender. 
Data not collected by the Home Office 
Data not collected by the Home Office 
15. Named Suspect identified: the crime is 
confirmed and the victim supports police action but 
evidential difficulties prevent further action 
Data not collected by the Home Office 
Data not collected by the Home Office 
16. Named Suspect identified: evidential difficulties 
prevent further action; victim does not support (or 
has withdrawn support from) police action 
Data not collected by the Home Office 
Data not collected by the Home Office 
17. Prosecution time limit expired: Suspect 
identified but prosecution time limit has expired. 
Data not collected by the Home Office 
Data not collected by the Home Office 
18. Investigation Complete: No suspect identified. 
Crime investigated as far as reasonably possible - 
case closed pending further investigative 
opportunities becoming available 
Data not collected by the Home Office 
Data not collected by the Home Office 
19. National Fraud Intelligence Bureau - filed 
(NFIB only) - A crime of fraud has been recorded 
but has not been allocated for investigation, 
because the assessment process at the NFIB has 
determined there are insufficient lines of enquiry to 
warrant such dissemination. 

Crime Outcomes in England and Wales 2013/14 
9 
 
Figure 1.1 shows how the outcomes framework introduced in April 2014 includes the same categories 
as the previous detections and outcomes frameworks, but also provides additional information on 
other crime outcomes.  
Figure 1.1 – diagram showing how all crimes initially recorded are dealt with by the police 
Note: Not to scale 
 
In addition to expanding the April 2013 outcomes framework, changes have also been made to the 
guidance provided to the police on recording outcomes. For example, in cases where there is a 
change in the outcome assigned by the police, the police should change the outcome to reflect the 
latest recorded. This is particularly relevant in the case of outcome 18, where no suspect is initially 
identified, but subsequent evidence may identify a suspect and lead to another outcome. In these 
cases the outcome should be updated to reflect this change, meaning that outcomes data are likely to 
be revised over time as police forces update the outcomes of some crimes. 
 
1.5 – INTERPRETING THE OUTCOMES FRAMEWORK 
The outcomes framework changes the way in which the Home Office are able to report on how crimes 
are dealt with by the police. Under the new outcomes framework a broader range of information on 
how the police deal with crime will be available, compared with the narrow definition of a detected 
crime that was available previously. All crimes will now be assigned an outcome. As table 1.1 shows, 
in addition to the former outcome types (1-6) such as charge/summons and caution, data will now be 
available on cases where there have been, for example, evidential difficulties in proceeding, or the 
victim is unwilling to proceed, or no suspect has been found.  
As a result, the concept of a detection rate is not appropriate as an overall picture of how crimes are 
dealt with, or as a measure of police activity. This is because it only considers a small subset of the 
ways in which the police actually deal with crimes. It can also lead to perverse incentives in target 
All offences initially 
recorded (including 
those still under 
investigation)
Outcomes 1-19
Outcomes 1-9 (formerly 
detections 1-6)
No-crimes

Crime Outcomes in England and Wales 2013/14 
10 
 
setting amongst police forces. Therefore in future we do not intend to publish a detection rate that is 
aligned with those shown in previous years. However, data on the individual outcomes that constituted 
the detection rate will continue to be collected and published as part of the full set of outcomes (1-19). 
For 2013/14, these data are shown in chapter 2. For continuity, we show data based on the former 
detection rate in Annex B of this publication, but urge consideration of the information highlighted here 
when interpreting this rate.  
Great care needs to be taken when making comparisons between police forces. In some cases 
making any such comparisons may be misleading, given that different police forces use outcomes in 
different ways and will have a different mix of crimes to deal with. For example, some police forces 
may implement more community resolutions than others, depending on their approach, the nature of 
the crimes they deal with and the views of their communities. For example, a force that deals with a 
disproportionately high number of drug offences may apply a different mix of outcomes compared with 
a force that deals with a higher proportion of violent offences. A comparison of outcome rates by 
police force can be found here: 
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/crime-outcomes-in-england-and-wales-2013-to-2014 
This bulletin considers rates only when focusing on a particular type of outcome, and primarily shows 
breakdowns by offence group. These are the cases where more meaningful comparisons can be 
drawn. An example would be comparing the charge/summons rates for burglary offences across 
police forces. It does consider the overall rates of some individual outcomes, although changes in 
these from one period to the next can be affected by a change in the crime mix. 
 
1.6 – DATA SHOWN IN THIS BULLETIN 
The new, broader outcomes categories were introduced in April 2014, and so it is not possible to show 
a full set of annual statistics in this bulletin based on them. However, they will be reported on in the 
next annual bulletin, in July 2015. In chapter 3 there is some preliminary data analysis based on the 
full set of outcomes (1-19) for a subset of forces. Additional analysis based on data provided by some 
forces via the Home Office Data Hub is also provided. These both highlight the intention to report 
these data in future bulletins and are presented for consideration by users. 
Chapter 2 in this bulletin focuses on outcomes 1-6 shown in table 1.1, as these were the ones for 
which data was collected between April 2013 and March 2014. This period was before the broader set 
of outcomes (1-19) was implemented. 
The Home Office Data Hub allows forces to provide record-level detail on offences, vastly increasing 
the opportunities for analysis of police recorded crime data. Crucially in the case of crime outcomes, 
the Data Hub also allows outcomes to be linked to their relevant offence. Previously, data has only 
been available on the total number of offences and the total number of outcomes recorded in any 
given period, with no way of linking the two together to produce figures on a common set of crimes. 
Using the Data Hub it is possible to see which outcome is applied to each offence. Some preliminary 
analysis based on this extra information is shown in chapter 3. This analysis is intended to be 
expanded in future publications.  This kind of analysis can provide further transparency for both crime 
and outcome data. 
 
1.7 – POLICE RECORDED CRIME 
The police recorded crime data used in this bulletin are supplied by police forces to the Home Office, 
and are then published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in “Crime in England and Wales: 
Year ending March 2014”: 
http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/taxonomy/index.html?nscl=Crime+in+England+and+Wales 
ONS publish police recorded crime statistics both including and excluding fraud (as measured by a 
combination of data from the police and Action Fraud). For the reasons documented in chapter 2, the 

Crime Outcomes in England and Wales 2013/14 
11 
 
headline outcome statistics in this bulletin exclude fraud. For consistency, ONS’s series of police 
recorded crime used for comparisons is the version that excludes fraud. 
In accordance with the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007, statistics based on police 
recorded crime data have been assessed against the Code of Practice for Official Statistics and found 
not to meet the required standard for designation as National Statistics. The full assessment report 
can be found on the UK Statistics Authority website: 
http://www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/assessment/assessment/assessment-reports/assessment-report-
268---statistics-on-crime-in-england-and-wales.pdf 
Recorded crime statistics provide important context to outcomes statistics, and are quoted where 
relevant in this bulletin. 
 
1.8 – CONSULTATION 
To reflect the change in the outcomes framework from April 2014, it is the intention of the Home Office 
Statistics Unit to present outcomes in a number of different ways in future years, taking advantage of 
the increased transparency that the new framework brings. Many of these changes are shown in 
chapter 3, and in section 3.6 a series of questions are asked on these changes, and how valuable 
users would find them. 
The Home Office Statistics Unit invites users to consider these proposed changes and would very 
much value comments and feedback to help shape future publications. 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Crime Outcomes in England and Wales 2013/14 
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2 
Outcomes Statistics for 2013/14 
2.1 – INTRODUCTION 
Statistics on crimes recorded by the police that appear in “Crimes in England and Wales: Year ending 
March 2014” are based on notifiable offences. These include all offences that could possibly be tried 
by jury (including some less serious offences, such as minor theft, that would not normally be dealt 
with in this way) plus a few closely related summary (heard only by magistrates) offences, such as 
assault without injury. For a list of all notifiable offences please see Appendix 1 of the ONS User 
Guide, which can be found under the Guidance and Methodology section: 
http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/taxonomy/index.html?nscl=Crime+in+England+and+Wales  
The 43 territorial police forces in England and Wales and the British Transport Police provide the 
Home Office with aggregate returns on the number of notifiable crimes and the number of outcomes 
they have recorded each year. Historically, it has not been possible to link individual outcomes to the 
crime that they relate to. However, in chapter 3 the intention to report on these data in future years is 
discussed, using data available via the Home Office Data Hub. 
The outcome (formerly detection) rates described in this chapter are the number of a particular 
outcome recorded in a period as a proportion of crimes recorded in the same period. In practice, this 
means that some crime types could show an outcome rate of over 100 per cent, as some outcomes 
are recorded in a different year to the year that the police recorded the crime. This is sometimes the 
case for relatively low volume crimes.  
Outcome rates are not a direct measure of police investigative performance, and need to be 
interpreted with care. For example, some of the offences with the highest outcome rates are the 
offences most influenced, in terms of their recorded numbers, by proactive policing to apprehend 
offenders. For example, drug offences are often resolved at the point of the crime being ‘discovered’, 
as are many of the offences in the ‘other crimes against society’ category.  
There may also be circumstances in which a crime may have been fully investigated, but an outcome 
is not recorded. An example would be where the police are satisfied that they have identified an 
offender, but the victim is unwilling to cooperate further in an investigation, or does not wish for formal 
action to be taken. These cases are included in the outcome framework (outcomes 1-19) introduced in 
April 2014, but data on these for all police forces will only be available in future annual publications. 
 
Fraud offences 
In April 2011, Action Fraud began taking over the recording of fraud offences from the individual police 
forces in England and Wales, a process that was completed by the end of March 2013. The 
implementation of Action Fraud as a single national fraud reporting centre appears to have led to an 
increase in the number of fraud offences recorded, as this provides an easier way for the public to 
report such offences, and centralises expertise in these cases. While forces continue to investigate 
frauds following this change, they do so only for those cases referred to them by Action Fraud.  
Outcomes data for the National Fraud Investigation Bureau (NFIB) are included in section 2.3 of this 
bulletin. However, because this is the first time that these data have been made available, and they 
are subject to ongoing quality assurance, they should be treated with caution at this stage. They are 
therefore excluded from the main outcomes figures, given the complexity involved in these data (see 
figure 2.2). 
 
Community Resolutions 
Data on community resolutions were previously collected from police forces on a voluntary basis, and 
in 2012/13 around half of forces supplied figures to the Home Office. However, for 2013/14 all forces 
were required to provide these data under the “Other” outcomes category. As a result, the number of 
outcomes in the “Other” category will be higher than those shown in previous years. 

Crime Outcomes in England and Wales 2013/14 
13 
 
2.2 – OUTCOME NUMBERS BY OUTCOME TYPE AND OFFENCE GROUP 
Table 2.1 shows the number of each outcome recorded by the police in 2013/14, by offence group, 
alongside the number of offences that were recorded during the same period. The outcomes data are 
based on the limited subset of outcomes for which data were available in 2013/14, namely outcomes 
1-6 from table 1.1, plus separate data on cannabis warnings.  
Table 2.1: Outcomes recorded in 2013/14, by outcome type (outcomes 1-6) and offence group 
  
As table 2.1 shows, the proportion of offences that result in a charge/summons varies considerably by 
offence type. For example: 
 Over two thirds (68%) of ‘possession of weapons’ offences are dealt with via a 
charge/summons, whilst around one tenth (11%) of theft offences are.  
 Violent (26%) and sexual (24%) offences both had about a quarter of offences leading to a 
charge/summons.  
Given the different natures of the crime types shown in this table, it is unsurprising that some outcome 
types are more common for some crime types than others. This reflects the severity of the crime 
types, and the guidance on outcomes given to police forces.  
As previously mentioned, the number of outcomes and number of recorded offences should be 
compared with caution, as the outcomes do not necessarily relate to the same period as the offences. 
Some of the outcomes will refer to offences that were recorded in previous years, and were allocated 
an outcome following completion of the investigation. The outcome rate should therefore be treated as 
indicative only. 
Between 2012/13 and 2013/14 the proportion of offences dealt with by a charge/summons increased 
Offence group
Recorded 
crime
Charge/ 
summons
Cautions
TICs1
PNDs2
Cannabis 
Warnings3
Other4
Number of outcomes
Violence against the person
634,586
166,712
60,722
102
116
n/a
37,081
Sexual offences
64,200
15,254
1,416
70
17
n/a
855
Robbery
57,818
11,448
166
280
0
n/a
103
Theft offences
1,845,243
203,419
31,750
39,147
20,111
n/a
44,146
Criminal damage and arson
506,190
46,195
18,214
1,012
2,047
n/a
19,051
Drug offences
198,176
69,884
34,409
94
14,768
63,967
687
Possession of w eapons offences
20,620
14,067
3,083
1
2
n/a
398
Public order offences
134,433
52,519
10,347
38
9,790
n/a
6,202
Misc. crimes against society
45,433
24,491
4,082
205
44
n/a
822
Total
3,506,699
603,989
164,189
40,949
46,895
63,967
109,345
Outcome rate (%)
Violence against the person
26.3
9.6
0.0
0.0
n/a
5.8
Sexual offences
23.8
2.2
0.1
0.0
n/a
1.3
Robbery
19.8
0.3
0.5
0.0
n/a
0.2
Theft offences
11.0
1.7
2.1
1.1
n/a
2.4
Criminal damage and arson
9.1
3.6
0.2
0.4
n/a
3.8
Drug offences
35.3
17.4
0.0
7.5
32.3
0.3
Possession of w eapons offences
68.2
15.0
0.0
0.0
n/a
1.9
Public order offences
39.1
7.7
0.0
7.3
n/a
4.6
Misc. crimes against society
53.9
9.0
0.5
0.1
n/a
1.8
Total
17.2
4.7
1.2
1.3
n/a
3.1
1. Offences asked to be taken into consideration by a court.
2. Penalty Notices for Disorder (PNDs).
n/a  Not applicable.
England and Wales, Recorded crime
3. Cannabis Warnings include a small number of community resolutions for possession of cannabis in 2013/14. 
4. Mainly consists of community resolutions, plus a small number of cases w here the offender has died, or the CPS has decided that prosecution 
is not in the public interest. This does not include the broader set of outcomes (10-19) introduced in  April 2014.

Crime Outcomes in England and Wales 2013/14 
14 
 
from 16.5 per cent to 17.2 per cent. This is the highest rate since the introduction of the National 
Crime Recording Standard (NCRS) in 2002/03, with the long term trend shown in table A. However, it 
is important to bear in mind that the change in the charge/summons rate varied considerably by 
offence type, and that changes in this rate can be influenced by the changes in the crime mix between 
years. For example, if there is a large increase in the crimes that are more likely to receive a 
charge/summons in a particular year, you would reasonably expect the ‘overall’ rate to increase. 
 
Table 2.2 shows that for most offence types, the number of charge/summonses in 2013/14 has 
changed from the previous year in a similar way to the number of recorded crimes. In other words, if 
recorded crime has increased, the number of charge/summonses has also increased, and vice versa.  
Table 2.2 – Number of charge/summons by offence group, 2012/13 and 2013/14 
 
The exception to this is theft offences, where the number of recorded crimes has decreased by 2.9 per 
cent, while the number of charge/summonses has increased by 5.6 per cent. This is likely to be driven 
by shoplifting, which saw an increase in both the number of offences (up 7%) and charge/summonses 
(up 11%) between 2012/13 and 2013/14. Because shoplifting accounted for over half (56%) of all 
charge/summonses assigned to theft offences but only 17 per cent of all theft offences, this helps 
explain why the crime and charge/summons numbers for theft offences moved in different directions 
between the two years. 
Table 2.2b – Number of charge/summons by offence group, 2012/13 and 2013/14 
 
Table 2.3 shows a different trend for cautions. The number of offences dealt with via a caution 
decreased for all offence types between 2012/13 and 2013/14, continuing the fall in the use of this 
outcome since 2007/08 (Table A). In several cases the fall since 2012/13 was despite the number of 
offences increasing in this period, with examples being violent and sexual offences. While the 
decrease in the use of cautions continues the trend since 2007/08, in the last year there have been 
additional changes in the way that simple cautions were used by the police. For example, in April 2013 
the Ministry of Justice announced a review into the use of cautions. Following this, the use of simple 
cautions for serious offences was ended in September 2013, as described here: 
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/chris-grayling-simple-cautions-for-serious-offences-to-be-
scrapped   
In addition to this, the Ministry of Justice also produced new guidance in November 2013, stating that 
offenders should not get more than one caution in a two year period for the same or a similar offence. 
2012/13
2013/14
% 
change
2012/13
2013/14
% 
change 
Number of charge/summons
Violence against the person
601,139
634,586
5.6
157,835
166,712
5.6
Sexual offences
53,620
64,200
19.7
13,041
15,254
17.0
Robbery
65,155
57,818
-11.3
12,477
11,448
-8.2
Theft offences
1,900,948
1,845,243
-2.9
192,548
203,419
5.6
Criminal damage and arson
529,713
506,190
-4.4
47,909
46,195
-3.6
Drug offences
208,002
198,176
-4.7
70,949
69,884
-1.5
Possession of w eapons offence
19,910
20,620
3.6
13,396
14,067
5.0
Public order offences
132,204
134,433
1.7
52,291
52,519
0.4
Misc. crimes against society
42,500
45,433
6.9
24,122
24,491
1.5
Total
3,553,191
3,506,699
-1.3
584,568
603,989
3.3
1. 2012/13 data includes some estimated data on 'making off w ithout payment' offences (see notes page)
     Number of offences
England and Wales, Recorded crime 
2012/13
2013/14
2012/13
2013/14
2012/13
2013/14
Shoplifting
300,623
321,008
103,390
114,364
34.4
35.6
All other theft offences1
1,600,325
1,524,235
89,158
89,055
5.6
5.8
1. 2012/13 data includes some estimated data on 'making off w ithout payment' offences (see notes page)
England and Wales, Recorded crime 
     Number of offences
Number of 
charge/summonses
Charge/summons rate (%)

Crime Outcomes in England and Wales 2013/14 
15 
 
These two factors, along with an increase in the availability and use of community resolutions by the 
police, are likely to have driven some of the reduction in cautions between the two years. However, as 
highlighted above the downward trend began well before these changes. 
Table 2.3 – Number of cautions by offence group, 2012/13 and 2013/14 
 
 
2.3 – FRAUD OUTCOMES DATA – EXPERIMENTAL STATISTICS 
The way in which fraud offences are reported has changed in recent years. From April 2011, Action 
Fraud gradually took responsibility for recording fraud offences. However, because this transfer was 
rolled out at different times for different forces, the transfer was only completed for all police forces by 
the end of March 20131.  
The 2013/14 data are therefore the first full year where all fraud offences were reported to, and 
recorded by, Action Fraud. We are able to present outcomes data for fraud offences that received an 
outcome during this period. The source of these data depends on when the offence that led to the 
outcome occurred. The majority of the data come from the National Fraud Investigation Bureau 
(NFIB), who recorded all fraud offences in 2013/14 (and some prior to that). However, some data are 
from police forces, who recorded outcomes relating to some offences from previous years.  
This is the first set of data provided by the NFIB in this way and the data are subject to ongoing 
development and quality assurance. Therefore these statistics are deemed to be experimental 
statistics and should be interpreted with caution.  In next year’s publication, a fuller set of statistics on 
fraud outcomes will be published. 
The process by which outcomes are recorded by Action Fraud is shown in the flow chart in figure 2.2. 
                                                        
1 For more information on the switch to Action Fraud, please see the “Crime in England and Wales: 
Year ending March 2014” bulletin, published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS): 
http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/taxonomy/index.html?nscl=Crime+in+England+and+Wales 
 
2012/13
2013/14
% 
change
2012/13
2013/14
% 
change 
      Number of cautions
Violence against the person
601,139
634,586
5.6
67,519
60,722
-10.1
Sexual offences
53,620
64,200
19.7
1,671
1,416
-15.3
Robbery
65,155
57,818
-11.3
282
166
-41.1
Theft offences
1,900,948
1,845,243
-2.9
35,859
31,750
-11.5
Criminal damage and arson
529,713
506,190
-4.4
19,790
18,214
-8.0
Drug offences
208,002
198,176
-4.7
38,526
34,409
-10.7
Possession of w eapons offence
19,910
20,620
3.6
3,920
3,083
-21.4
Public order offences
132,204
134,433
1.7
11,634
10,347
-11.1
Misc. crimes against society
42,500
45,433
6.9
4,442
4,082
-8.1
Total
3,553,191
3,506,699
-1.3
183,643
164,189
-10.6
1. 2012/13 data includes some estimated data on 'making off w ithout payment' offences (see notes page)
England and Wales, Recorded crime 
     Number of offences

Crime Outcomes in England and Wales 2013/14 
16 
 
Figure 2.2 – How Fraud Outcomes are Recorded 
 
 
 
Table 2.4 shows fraud outcomes recorded in 2013/14. As discussed in section 2.1, in some cases 
outcomes recorded in 2013/14 will relate to offences recorded in earlier years. This table therefore 
shows the two ways in which fraud outcomes were recorded in 2013/14. The first row shows 
outcomes that were recorded by police forces in 2013/14. These relate to offences that were recorded 
by the police force before 2013/14 (before their transition to Action Fraud). The second row shows 
outcomes recorded by Action Fraud. These relate to offences that were recorded by Action Fraud and 
were allocated back to police forces to investigate, with an outcome subsequently achieved. 
When considering the outcome rates shown in table 2.4, it is important to bear in mind that the 
outcomes recorded by Action Fraud only account for those offences that were allocated back to police 
forces to investigate. They do not include those cases where there was deemed to be insufficient 
grounds for further investigation, and so were not referred back to police forces. The relatively low 
outcome rates compared with other offence types needs to be considered in this light. In 2013/14 just 
over 39,000 offences were disseminated back to police forces to investigate. This represents 19 per 
cent of all offences recorded by Action Fraud. 
 
 
 
 
Fraud offence is reported to Action Fraud
Offence recorded by Action fraud, and included in the 
total offence count for that period
NFIB assess the case and decide whether there is 
sufficient grounds to allocate it to a police force for 
investigation
Offence is allocated outcome 19 in 
the new outcomes framework 
(National Fraud Investigation 
Bureau Filed)
Offence is allocated to the relevant
police force to investigate
No
Yes
Police force investigates and 
allocates an outcome
Outcome sent back to Action 
Fraud, who then record this and 
send the datato the Home Office

Crime Outcomes in England and Wales 2013/14 
17 
 
Table 2.4 – Fraud Outcomes Data, 2013/14 (Experimental Statistics) 
 
In this bulletin, the outcomes data provided by the NFIB only covers the same limited subset of 
outcomes (outcomes 1-6) as for other crime outcomes shown in section 2.2. However, the data 
published next year will include the full set of crime outcomes (1-19), including those offences that 
were filed by the NFIB (outcome 19) where there were deemed to be insufficient grounds for further 
investigation. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Offence group
Total 
recorded 
offences1
Charge/ 
summons
Cautions
TICs2
PNDs3
Other4
Number of outcomes
Outcomes recorded by police forces2
2,381
227
353
1
189
Outcomes recorded by Action Fraud3
5,767
1,504
670
13
625
Total
211,344
8,148
1,731
1,023
14
814
Outcome rate (%)
Outcome rate
3.9
0.8
0.5
0.0
0.4
1. Almost all of these offences w ere recorded by Action Fraud.
2. Offences recorded by police forces prior to 2013/14, and outcomes recorded by police forces in 2013/14
3. Offences recorded by Action Fraud in 2013/14, and outcomes recorded by Action Fraud in 2013/14
England and Wales, Recorded crime
4. Mainly consists of community resolutions, plus a small number of cases w here the offender has died, or the CPS 
has decided that prosecution is not in the public interest. This does not include the broader set of outcomes (10-19) 
introduced in  April 2014.

Crime Outcomes in England and Wales 2013/14 
18 
 
3 
Future plans for Reporting on Outcomes  
3.1 - OUTLINE OF INTENTIONS 
As discussed in chapter 1, an expanded outcomes framework was introduced in April 2014. In the 
next annual publication in July 2015, the first full year’s data based on this full outcomes framework 
will be published. This chapter sets out how these data will be presented, and asks for feedback from 
users of the statistics on this approach. It also shows some new analysis based on data provided by a 
subset of forces via the Home Office Data Hub. There are three main areas where the Home Office 
proposes to present data in future publications: 
 
The total number of outcomes recorded in a period, for the full set of outcomes (1-19). For 
2013/14, this was possible (see section 2.2) for the limited subset of outcomes (1-6 in table 
1.1) that corresponded with the old detections framework. See section 3.2 for more details. 
 
How crimes recorded in a given period have been dealt with. This involves linking outcomes to 
the offence that they relate to. This is only possible via the Home Office Data Hub (a record 
level crime database), which contains information on both the outcome date and the date 
when the offence was recorded. See section 3.3 for more details. 
 
The time lag between offences being recorded and an outcome being recorded for that 
offence. This analysis has not previously been possible from the data that the Home Office 
hold, but is again made possible by using the Home Office Data Hub. Section 3.4 shows this 
for the limited subset of outcomes (1-9) on which data was collected in 2013/14. In future 
years data for the full set of outcomes (1-19) will be published. 
 
3.2 – OUTCOMES BASED ON THE FULL APRIL 2014 FRAMEWORK 
In chapter 2,data were presented on the same headline outcome types (outcomes 1-6 in table 1.1) 
that were reported on in previous years. However, since the introduction of the new framework in April 
2014, data are now supplied by most police forces based on the full range of outcomes (1-19). Next 
year it is intended that this bulletin will be based on these outcomes.  
Some police forces have started recording against the new framework slightly later than others, due to 
the considerable changes to administrative systems that were required. Most of these have started 
doing so at the beginning of July 2014. This will need to be considered when interpreting the data on 
the full set of outcomes next year, as some forces will have a full year of data under the new 
framework, while others will have part of the year based on the full set of outcomes, and part based on 
the limited subset provided previously. 
Figure 3.1 shows partial data for the first two months of the full outcomes framework (1-19), for a 
subset of police forces. It therefore includes those crimes where there are evidential difficulties, or a 
suspect is not identified, or where a prosecution is prevented. This is the first time such data have 
been available. The data are presented for illustrative purposes only, and represent all outcomes 
recorded by police forces in these months, not just those relating to crimes that were recorded in those 
months. It therefore allows consideration of police workload, as the figures reflect the total number of 
each type of outcome that have been assigned in that period. In the next bulletin, it is intended that 
analysis at police force level will be published. 
Although the data in figure 3.1 are partial and preliminary, they give an indication of how outcomes 
vary by offence type. For example: 
 
Possession of weapons offences are most likely to be resolved by a charge/summons, with 
around two thirds (67%) of the total outcomes being this type. This contrasts with theft 
offences, where only 13 per cent of outcomes were charges/summons. 
 
Sexual offences (46%) and violent offences (39%) had a greater proportion of outcomes 
where there were evidential difficulties than other crime types. 

Crime Outcomes in England and Wales 2013/14 
19 
 
 
Criminal damage and arson offences (73%) and theft offences (72%) were the offence types 
that were most likely to result in a suspect not being identified. Drug offences were the least 
likely, with these accounting for only one per cent of outcomes. 
 
 
 

Crime Outcomes in England and Wales 2013/14 
20 
 
Figure 3.1 – Outcomes by outcome type and offence group, indicative data 
 
Source: Home Office Recorded Crime Database, subset of forces, April and May 2014 data 
1. Based on those crimes where an outcome has been assigned. This does not include crimes that are still under investigation 
i.e. yet to be assigned an outcome. 
2. The numbers behind this chart are in the supplementary online data  tables document, which can be found here: 
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/crime-outcomes-in-england-and-wales-2013-to-2014 
 
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Criminal damage and arson
Drug offences
Miscellaneous crimes
Possession of weapons offences
Public order offences
Robbery
Sexual offences
Theft offences
Violence against the person
Proportion of outcomes that are each type
Charged/Summonsed
Caution – youths
Caution – adults
Taken into consideration
Offender Died
PND
Cannabis Warning
Community Resolution
Not in public interest (CPS)
Not in public interest (Police)
Prosecution prevented – suspect under age
Prosecution prevented – suspect ill
Prosecution prevented – victim/key witness dead/ill
Evidential difficulties victim based – suspect not identified
Evidential difficulties prevent further action; victim supports 
police action
Evidential difficulties prevent further action; victim does not 
support police action
Prosecution time limit expired
Investigation complete - no suspect identified

Crime Outcomes in England and Wales 2013/14 
21 
 
3.3 – OUTCOMES OF ALL OFFENCES RECORDED IN A PERIOD 
As well as looking at the total number of outcomes recorded in a given period, the Home Office Data 
Hub offers the opportunity to look at how the police deal with all the crimes that they record in a 
period. For example, when police recorded crime figures are published by the ONS for the year 
2014/15, it will be possible to look at the outcomes for all of these crimes. It will then be possible to 
see the proportion of crimes that resulted in a charge/summons, the proportion that resulted in a 
caution, the proportion that were still under investigation, and so on. This will provide a level of 
transparency that has never previously been available. 
At present, these data can only be collected for police forces that provide data via the Home Office 
Data Hub as this allows offences to be linked to their outcome. However, we hope to expand this 
collection across other police forces from 2014/15 onwards. 
Table 3.1 shows data from a subset of forces that have provided data via the Home Office Data Hub in 
the first two months of 2014/15. This is only for illustrative purposes but gives an indication of the 
usefulness of the data. For example, it allows you to see what proportion of crimes recorded in a given 
period are still under investigation, what proportion have been given an outcome, and of the latter 
group, which outcomes are most common. 
Although the figures in table 3.1 are preliminary, they still give an indication of how offences are dealt 
with by the police. Of the subset of recorded offences shown, at the end of May 2014 74 per cent had 
been assigned an outcome already, whilst 26 per cent were still under investigation. Of those 
assigned an outcome, over half had led to a completed investigation with no suspect found. 
Table 3.1 – Outcomes of the offences recorded by a subset of forces in early 2014/15 
 
Source: Home Office Data Hub, subset of forces, April and May 2014 data 
To gain the full benefits from this analysis, it is important that it is repeated over time. For example, at 
the end of 2014/15 it is likely that there will be a significant proportion of crimes recorded in the year 
that are still under investigation, particularly where the crime was recorded at the end of the year and 
police investigations are at an early stage. However, many of these crimes will then be dealt with in 
the following months, with an outcome assigned during the following year. We will continue to revise 
Offences allocated an outcome
74%
Charge/Summons
12%
Caution - Youths
<1%
Caution - Adults
3%
Taken into consideration
<1%
The Offender has Died (all offences)
<1%
Penalty Notice for Disorder
1%
Cannabis w arning
1%
Community resolution
3%
Prosecution not in the public interest (CPS) (all offences)
<1%
Formal action against the offender is not in the public interest (Police)
1%
Prosecution prevented – Named suspect identified but is below  the age of criminal responsibility
<1%
Prosecution prevented – Named suspect identified but is too ill (physical or mental health) to 
prosecute
<1%
Prosecution prevented – Named suspect identified but victim or key w itness is dead or too ill to give 
evidence
<1%
Evidential Difficulties Victim Based – Named suspect not identified: The crime is confirmed but the 
victim either declines/ or is unable to support further police investigation to identify the offender
1%
Named Suspect identified: evidential difficulties prevent further action; victim does not support (or has 
w ithdraw n support from) police action
5%
Named Suspect identified: victim supports police action but evidential difficulties prevent further action
4%
Prosecution time limit expired: Suspect identified but prosecution time limit has expired
<1%
Investigation Complete: No suspect identified. Crime investigated as far as reasonably possible – case 
closed pending further investigative opportunities becoming available
43%
Offences not yet assigned an outcome
26%
Total offences
100%

Crime Outcomes in England and Wales 2013/14 
22 
 
this analysis to reflect the evolution of such outcomes, allowing users to see how the crimes in the 
period are gradually all given an outcome. 
 
3.4 – THE TIME GAP BETWEEN OFFENCES AND OUTCOMES 
As discussed, until now it has not been possible to link outcomes to their corresponding offences. 
However, the Home Office Data Hub now allows this analysis to be undertaken for police forces that 
provide data via this method. This provides a new opportunity for analysis, as it will be possible to 
compare the date when offences were recorded with the date when an outcome was assigned for that 
offence.  
Figure 3.2 shows some of the early findings from this analysis. This analysis is based on a subset of 
forces that provide data via the Home Office Data Hub. It should be interpreted with caution as it 
excludes several police forces, notably the Metropolitan Police, which accounts for a large proportion 
of crime outcomes. In addition to this, the analysis only covers the April 2013 outcomes framework 
(outcomes 1-9 in table 1.1), and does not cover the full range of outcomes (1-19) introduced in April 
2014. Once these new outcomes are included, the results may differ depending on how quickly the 
new outcomes are assigned. Nevertheless, this analysis still provides a useful indication of the length 
of time taken for different crimes to be assigned an outcome. 
Figure 3.2 shows the number of days between an offence being recorded and an outcome being 
assigned for that offence, both for all offences and for specific offence groups. This shows that in 
2013/14, 50 per cent of the offences were assigned an outcome within five days of the offence being 
recorded, and three quarters (75%) were assigned an outcome within 30 days. Ten per cent took 
more than 100 days to be assigned an outcome. 
This picture varies considerably depending on the offence type. For example, sexual offences 
generally took much longer to be assigned an outcome than other offence types, with almost half 
(45%) taking over 100 days. This is likely to be due to the complexity of these cases, and the level of 
investigation needed. In contrast, offences such as possession of weapons were generally resolved 
much more quickly, with over two thirds (69%) assigned an outcome within five days. This may reflect 
the nature of this type of offence, where the offender is usually identified and dealt with at the same 
time as the crime comes to the attention of the police (and is recorded).  
Figure 3.2 – The length of time between offences and outcomes, by offence type, 2013/14 
 
Source: Home Office Data Hub, subset of forces, 2013/14 data 
1. Only includes the limited subset of outcomes available in the April 2013 outcomes framework (outcomes 1-9). It does not 
include the extra outcome types (10-19) in the April 2014 framework. 
2. The numbers behind this chart are in the supplementary online data  tables document, which can be found here: 
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/crime-outcomes-in-england-and-wales-2013-to-2014 
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Proportion of outcomes assigned
More than 100 days
31 to 100 days
6 to 30 days
1 to 5 days
Same day

Crime Outcomes in England and Wales 2013/14 
23 
 
 
Figure 3.3 shows how the time taken for an outcome to be assigned to a crime varies by outcome 
type. In the case of Penalty Notices for Disorder and cannabis warnings, most of these outcomes 
(73% and 67% respectively) are assigned within five days of the offence being recorded. In over a 
third of cases (37% and 36% respectively), the outcome is assigned on the same day. For 
charge/summons, 18 per cent of outcomes are assigned on the same day, and for cautions this figure 
is 23 per cent. As might be expected, Taking into consideration (TIC)s were the outcome type that 
generally took longest to assign, with half of these (50%) happening more than 100 days after the 
offence was recorded. 
Figure 3.3 – The length of time between offences and outcomes, by outcome type, 2013/14 
 
Source: Home Office Data Hub, subset of forces, 2013/14 data 
1. TICs are offences asked to be taken into consideration by a court. 
 
 
 
2. PNDs are Penalty Notices for Disorder. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3. Cannabis Warnings include a small number of community resolutions for possession of cannabis in 2013/14.   
 
4. The “other” category mainly consists of community resolutions, plus a small number of cases where the offender has died, or 
the CPS has decided that prosecution is not in the public interest. This does not include the broader set of outcomes (10-19) 
introduced in April 2014. 
5. Only includes the limited subset of outcomes available in the April 2013 outcomes framework (outcomes 1-9). It does not 
include the extra outcome types (10-19) in the April 2014 framework. 
6. The numbers behind this chart are in the supplementary online data  tables document, which can be found here: 
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/crime-outcomes-in-england-and-wales-2013-to-2014 
 
 
This analysis is based on a subset of forces only. However, as more forces make the transition to the 
Home Office Data Hub in the coming months, the benefits and extent of the analysis will increase. 
Next year, this analysis will be updated with the following improvements: 
(a) More forces included, as forces move towards providing data via the Home Office Data Hub. 
(b) The full set of outcomes (1-19) will be included in the analysis. 
 
3.5 – FUTURE TIMELINESS OF OUTCOMES STATISTICS 
At present, outcome statistics are published on an annual basis, with the statistics published covering 
the previous financial year. Going forward, it is intended to present a set of core tables on outcomes 
on a more regular basis. From early 2015, a small set of tables on a quarterly basis will be published, 
to show two things: 
(a) The total number of outcomes recorded in the previous quarter, by outcome type and offence 
type. 
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Proportion of outcomes assigned
More than 100 days
31 to 100 days
6 to 30 days
1 to 5 days
Same day

Crime Outcomes in England and Wales 2013/14 
24 
 
(b) The outcomes assigned to offences recorded in the previous quarter, i.e. how many resulted 
in charges, cautions, and so on. 
 
As previously discussed, the second of these are likely to be revised considerably from one quarter to 
the next, as more offences from the period are given an outcome. This constant change will mean that 
the same table is likely to look quite different with each quarterly update, until eventually all offences 
recorded in a given period will have been given an outcome. 
 
3.6 – CONSULTATION WITH USERS 
This chapter has shown how the Home Office Statistics Unit intends to present data on the full 
outcomes framework in future publications. However, in order to do this we need to fully understand 
our users’ needs, and we would therefore welcome opinions on these intentions from users of these 
data. Therefore we would like to gather opinions on the following questions: 
1. How do you use the outcomes (and former detections) publications? 
 
2. Do you find it helpful to see outcomes shown both in terms of the total outcomes recorded in a 
period, and those that specifically relate to crimes recorded in that period? 
 
3. Do you find one of these approaches more useful than the other?  If so, why? 
 
4. Would you like to see some of the new outcome types grouped when the data are presented 
in future? If so, what groups would you like to see? 
 
5. How useful did you find the analysis on the gap between offences being recorded and 
outcomes being recorded? Could this analysis be improved in any way? 
 
6. Would you find it helpful if a basic set of tables on outcomes were made available on a 
quarterly basis? 
 
7. Are there any other ways in which you think the changes could be presented better? 
 
Please send responses to these questions, along with any other comments that you may have, to 
xxx@xxx.xx .by the 10 October 2014. The Home Office Statistics Unit will then 
publish a short response summarising the results of the consultation, and clarifying our future 
intentions. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Crime Outcomes in England and Wales 2013/14 
25 
 
Annex A – No-Crimes in England and Wales 
A1 – DEFINITIONS AND CIRCUMSTANCES FOR NO-CRIMES 
A no-crime occurs when the police have originally recorded an offence, but have subsequently 
determined that the crime did not take place, or was recorded in error. Cases where an incident is 
never recorded as a crime in the first place are not included. 
Offences may be no-crimed in one of the following situations: 
1. The crime was committed outside the jurisdiction of the police force in which it was recorded. 
In this case it will be no-crimed and referred to the appropriate force. 
2. Additional verifiable information becomes available that determines that no notifiable crime 
has been committed. 
3. The crime is part of a crime that has already been recorded. 
4. An incident has been recorded as a crime by mistake. 
5. The crime was one of assault (not more serious than actual bodily harm) and there is clear 
evidence that the offender acted in self defence. 
 
In the statistics shown in this section, no-crimes are always recorded in the same financial year as the 
offence that was originally recorded. So if, for example, an offence was recorded in January and then 
subsequently no-crimed in the next financial year (e.g. May), the no-crime will be recorded for the 
previous financial year. This ensures that the total count of offences in any given year is correct. 
 
A2 – NO-CRIME STATISTICS 
Data on no-crimes are shown in table A1. This shows that overall, 3.1 per cent of all offences that 
were initially recorded as crimes in 2013/14 were subsequently no-crimed. However, no-crime rates 
vary considerably by offence group. The highest no-crime rates were seen for miscellaneous offences, 
whilst the lowest rates were seen for robbery offences. The no-crime rate for rape offences was 7.3 
per cent in 2013/14. 
An additional online table shows these no-crime rates for individual forces, and can be found here: 
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/no-crimes-data-2013-to-2014  
An ‘Open data’ table on no-crimes is also available, showing no-crime data by police force for each of 
the last three financial years. This is available here: 
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/police-recorded-crime-open-data-tables  
Table A1: Number and proportion of ‘no crimes’, by offence group, 2013/14 
 
Offences initially 
recorded
No-crimes
Offences 
recorded
No-crimes as 
% of offences 
initially 
recorded
Violence against the person
656,503
21,917
634,586
3.3
Sexual offences
67,863
3,663
64,200
5.4
   of which: Rape
22,368
1,643
20,725
7.3
Robbery
59,004
1,186
57,818
2.0
Theft offences
1,905,234
59,991
1,845,243
3.1
Criminal damage and arson
517,199
11,009
506,190
2.1
Drug offences
202,508
4,332
198,176
2.1
Possession of w eapons offences
22,192
1,572
20,620
7.1
Public order offences
140,301
5,868
134,433
4.2
Misc. crimes against society
49,840
4,407
45,433
8.8
Total (excluding fraud offences)
3,620,644
113,945
3,506,699
3.1
1. Excludes fraud offences as responsibility for recording and no-criming these had transferred to Action Fraud in 2013/14

Crime Outcomes in England and Wales 2013/14 
26 
 
A3 – HMIC FINDINGS ON THE QUALITY OF NO-CRIMING 
In 2012, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of the Constabulary (HMIC) produced a review of Police Crime 
Recording practices. This included a section on ‘no crimes’, which found that the average proportion of 
‘no crime’ decisions that were correct was 87 per cent across all crime types, and 84 per cent for 
violent offences. 
The range of correct ‘no crime’ decisions varied between 75 per cent and 100 per cent across police 
forces. The full HMIC report can be found here: 
http://www.hmic.gov.uk/media/review-police-crime-incident-reports-20120125.pdf    
HMIC are conducting a further round of crime data integrity inspections in 2013/14. These are 
investigating the accuracy of crime recording across all police forces, and include a further 
assessment of the appropriateness and accuracy of no-crime recording. Once these inspections are 
completed, HMIC intend to produce a final report in Autumn 2014.  
An interim report detailing the results from the first 13 forces was published in May 2014. One of the 
weaknesses that HMIC identified with police recording practices was crimes being inappropriately 
recorded as no-crimes. The report can be found here: 
http://www.hmic.gov.uk/publication/crime-recording-a-matter-of-fact-interim-report/  
 
A4 – COMPARING NO-CRIMES ACROSS POLICE FORCES  
It is important to exercise caution when comparing no-crime data across police forces. A particularly 
high or low number of no-crimes should not necessarily be interpreted positively or negatively, as 
different forces may use no-crimes in different ways. For example, whilst one force may record all 
crimes immediately and then later no-crime a significant proportion of these, others may wait longer to 
judge whether an offence constitutes a crime or not, and thus are likely to record fewer no-crimes 
overall. This means that a firm conclusion cannot be drawn when comparing no-crime numbers across 
forces, as any differences seen may just reflect differences in recording practices. More details of this 
can be found in the HMIC reports mentioned above. 
Additionally, comparisons between forces need to be made with caution because some forces may 
deal more frequently with offence types that are more likely to be no-crimed. 
 
 
 
 

Crime Outcomes in England and Wales 2013/14 
27 
 
Annex B – Former Detection rates 
B1: THE DETECTION RATE CONCEPT 
In previous detections bulletins, the Home Office has published an overall detection rate, showing the 
number of detections recorded in a period divided by the number of crimes recorded in the same 
period. Given the new outcomes framework, the concept of a detection rate is now outdated, as a 
fuller set of information becomes available to comprehensively show how the police deal with crimes. 
Therefore, it is no longer appropriate to publish a detection rate as an indicator of how the police deal 
with crime.  However, the outcomes that make up the detection rate will still be published as part of 
the wider outcomes framework.  
The Home Office will not publish a detection rate in the next outcomes bulletin for the following 
reasons: 
1. The full outcomes framework (outcomes 1-19), where every offence has an outcome, means 
that the concept of an outcome rate no longer has meaning. Eventually the outcome rate will 
be 100 per cent once all crimes in a period have been fully investigated. 
 
2. The previous detections framework lacked transparency as it only accounted for around 30 
per cent of crimes, despite many of the remaining 70 per cent of crimes having been fully 
investigated, including many cases where suspects have been identified. Therefore while the 
detection rate was the best tool available in the past, it does not account for the new outcome 
types. 
 
3. Rates can be misleading when comparing across police forces. These rates are not a direct 
measure of police investigative performance, and can vary considerably depending on the 
types of crime that a particular force tends to deal with. Additionally, proactive policing 
initiatives can also affect the rates for each outcome (and can affect the level of crime 
recorded). As a result, outcome rates only really have merit when used to compare specific 
outcome types, for certain crimes. For example, comparing caution rates for criminal damage 
across forces may be useful. However, comparing the overall outcome rate, or even the 
caution rate, across forces is far less helpful, as one force may deal with considerably more 
crimes that are likely to be cautioned than another. 
 
B2: FORMER DETECTION RATES 
For comparative purposes and because this is a transitional publication to the new outcomes 
framework, in this section an overall detection rate and a detection rate for the main crime types are 
provided. Table B1 shows these for 2013/14, compared with 2012/13. This comparison needs to be 
treated with additional caution, because in 2013/14 data on community resolutions were provided by 
almost all police forces. In 2012/13, providing these data was optional and approximately half of all 
forces provided them. Additionally, there has been a movement away from the use of cautions over 
the last year (see section 2.2), in some cases towards the use of community resolutions. As a result, 
the rates across the two years cannot be directly compared. The most reliable comparison is the 
charge/summons rate.    
 

Crime Outcomes in England and Wales 2013/14 
28 
 
Table B1: Former detection rates by crime type (excluding fraud offences), 2012/13 and 2013/14 
 
Figure B1: Former detection rate, 2002/03 to 2013/14 
 
1. 2013/14 rates include data on community resolutions for almost all forces, as indicated by the dashed line. 2012/13 data only 
include these data for 22 forces. Before 2011/12, only a small number of forces were providing data on them. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2012/13
2013/14
% 
change
2012/13
2013/14
% 
change 
2012/13
2013/14
% point 
change
      Number of detections
       Former 'detection rate' (%)
Violence against the person
601,139
634,586
5.6
248,340
264,733
6.6
41.3
41.7
0.4
Sexual offences
53,620
64,200
19.7
15,283
17,612
15.2
28.5
27.4
-1.1
Robbery
65,155
57,818
-11.3
13,536
11,997
-11.4
20.8
20.7
0.0
Theft offences
1,900,948
1,845,243
-2.9
332,952
338,573
1.7
17.5
18.3
0.8
Criminal damage and arson
529,713
506,190
-4.4
85,101
86,519
1.7
16.1
17.1
1.0
Drug offences
208,002
198,176
-4.7
195,061
183,809
-5.8
93.8
92.8
-1.0
Possession of w eapons offences
19,910
20,620
3.6
17,578
17,551
-0.2
88.3
85.1
-3.2
Public order offences
132,204
134,433
1.7
82,117
78,896
-3.9
62.1
58.7
-3.4
Misc. crimes against society
42,500
45,433
6.9
29,450
29,644
0.7
69.3
65.2
-4.0
Total (excluding fraud)
3,553,191
3,506,699
-1.3
1,019,418
1,029,334
1.0
28.7
29.4
0.7
1. 2013/14 rates include data on community resolutions for almost all forces. 2012/13 data only include these data for 22 forces.
2. 2012/13 data includes some estimated data on 'making off w ithout payment' offences (see notes page)
England and Wales, Recorded crime 
     Number of offences
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
Former 'detection rate' (%)

Crime Outcomes in England and Wales 2013/14 
29 
 
Annex C – Crime Outcomes Data Quality 
C1 - INTRODUCTION 
In January 2014, the UK Statistics Authority published its assessment of ONS crime statistics. It found 
that statistics based on police recorded crime data, having been assessed against the Code of 
Practice for Official Statistics, did not meet the required standard for designation as National Statistics. 
The UKSA published a list of requirements for these statistics to regain the National Statistics 
accreditation. 
Some of the requirements of this assessment were to provide more detail on how data sources were 
used to produce these statistics, along with more information on the quality of the statistics. 
Additionally, there was also a requirement to provide information on the process used by police forces 
to submit and revise data, and the validation processes used by the Home Office. In order to ensure 
that this publication meets the high standards required by the UK Statistics Authority, details are 
provided below. 
 
C2 – DATA SOURCES USED 
Police recorded crime data are supplied to the Home Office by the 43 territorial police forces of 
England and Wales, plus the British Transport Police. These data are supplied to the Home Office on 
a monthly basis in an aggregated return. In this return, data on outcomes and ‘no crimes’ are collected 
alongside recorded crime data for each crime within the notifiable offence list. Notifiable offences 
include all offences that could possibly be tried by jury (these include some less serious offences, 
such as minor theft that would not usually be dealt with this way) plus a few additional closely-related 
summary offences dealt with by magistrates, such as assault without injury.  
The monthly data are cumulative, such that each month’s return will contain the data for the financial 
year to date. When a police force wants to make revisions to this data, they usually do this in the latest 
monthly return, rather than re-sending a return for the period affected. The exception to this rule is 
when the revisions affect a previous financial year. In these cases the police force will re-send an end 
of year return for that year. 
Outcomes are currently recorded in the month that the outcome is applied, and not the month in which 
the original offence occurred. For example, if an offence occurred in January and a suspect was 
subsequently charged in June, the outcome would be recorded in June. This means that the data on 
outcomes for a given month does not correspond to the data on offences in that month, or even the 
same year. 
No crimes are recorded in the year in which the original offence was recorded. This is to ensure that 
the total offences for each year are correct, i.e. a no crime for a previous financial year does not get 
included in the current year, and falsely lower the total number of offences recorded in the current 
year. 
 
C3 – DATA VALIDATION PROCESSES 
As data are collected from police forces on a monthly basis, the Home Office carry out a series of 
routine checks and feed the results of these back to police forces. These checks include: 
 
Looking for any offences where there have been a large number of no-crimes since the 
previous month. 
 
Looking for any large or unusual changes in offences, outcomes or no-crimes from the 
previous month. 
 
Looking for cases where forces have provided data against an offence classification that no 
longer exists (e.g. the former fraud classifications). 
 
Comparing offence types and outcome types against the long term trend, to spot any outliers 
in the monthly data. 

Crime Outcomes in England and Wales 2013/14 
30 
 
 
Any outliers or anomalies are usually small. 
Police forces are then asked to investigate these trends and either provide an explanation, or resubmit 
figures where an error has occurred. Where resubmission is required, the force will usually just correct 
the errors in the latest monthly submission, rather than re-send all of the months in question. In the 
case of forces providing data via the Home Office Data Hub, the force will send modified versions of 
the affected records. These then supersede the original versions. 
 
C4 – THE HOME OFFICE DATA HUB  
As discussed in chapter 1, the Home Office Data Hub allows police forces to provide record-level 
detail on offences, vastly increasing the opportunities for the analysis of police recorded crime data. At 
the time of publication, there were 16 forces providing data solely via the Data Hub, with several 
others in the ‘parallel running’ phase, where they are sending data both via the CrimSec4 form (the old 
way of sending police recorded crime data) and via the Data Hub, with a view to switching exclusively 
to the Data Hub soon. Some other police forces are in the ‘testing’ phase, and are working to send in 
reliable data via the Data Hub. The Home Office are working with these forces to help them with this 
transition, and are committed to achieving a fully operational Data Hub. 
 

Crime Outcomes in England and Wales 2013/14 
31 
 
           Table A: Number of outcomes and outcome rates by outcome type, 2012/13 and 2013/14 
England and Wales, Recorded crime 
Outcome type
2002/03
2003/04
2004/05
2005/06
2006/07
2007/08
2008/09
2009/10
2010/11
2011/12
2012/13
2013/14
2012/13 to 
2013/14
% 
change 
Charge/summons
771,716
752,069
698,640
700,101
673,714
657,230
681,472
651,757
658,713
633,985
584,568
603,989
3.3
Cautions
207,818
220,005
257,783
304,461
351,244
351,552
313,702
264,873
232,355
205,760
183,643
164,189
-10.6
TICs1
91,205
88,204
88,386
103,363
111,328
99,021
96,875
76,244
71,896
63,898
55,197
40,949
-25.8
PNDs2 3
..
3,045
35,919
105,594
139,666
128,978
108,240
102,699
86,010
73,759
59,868
46,895
-21.7
Cannabis Warnings 3
..
..
40,138
62,586
80,653
103,804
107,241
87,332
80,659
77,933
69,236
63,967
-7.6
Other4 5 6
268,021
284,320
265,721
191,187
80,770
911
2,931
7,244
10,375
53,322
66,906
109,345
63.4
Total number of offences (excluding fraud)7
5,791,277
5,843,549
5,476,771
5,425,691
5,322,377
4,881,140
4,630,383
4,265,036
4,078,475
3,903,581
3,553,191
3,506,699
-1.3
% point 
change 
Charge/summons
13.3
12.9
12.8
12.9
12.7
13.5
14.7
15.3
16.2
16.2
16.5
17.2
0.8
Cautions
3.6
3.8
4.7
5.6
6.6
7.2
6.8
6.2
5.7
5.3
5.2
4.7
-0.5
TICs1
1.6
1.5
1.6
1.9
2.1
2.0
2.1
1.8
1.8
1.6
1.6
1.2
-0.4
PNDs2 3
..
0.1
0.7
1.9
2.6
2.6
2.3
2.4
2.1
1.9
1.7
1.3
-0.3
Cannabis Warnings 3
..
..
0.7
1.2
1.5
2.1
2.3
2.0
2.0
2.0
1.9
1.8
-0.1
Other
4.6
4.9
4.9
3.5
1.5
0.0
0.1
0.2
0.3
1.4
1.9
3.1
1.2
1. Offences asked to be taken into consideration by a court (TICs).
2. Penalty Notices for Disorder (PNDs) (formerly know n as fixed penalty notices) w ere introduced in several police forces in 2003/04 and nationally in 2004/05.
7. Total number of recorded crimes, w hether assigned an outcome or not.
9. Data for the years 2002/03 to 2012/13 contains some estimated data on 'making off w ithout payment' offences, follow ing the creation of a back series of data on these outcomes (see notes page)
..  Not available.
6. Includes community resolution and restorative justice data submitted on a voluntary basis by some police forces in 2011/12 and 2012/13. These data w ere then submitted by almost all police forces in 2013/14.
8. The number of crimes assigned an outcome divided by total number of recorded offences.
Number of outcomes
Outcome rates (%) 8
3. Cannabis Warnings for possession of cannabis w ere introduced in 2004/05. Since 26 January 2009, Penalty Notices for Disorder (PNDs) can also be given for an offence of cannabis possession.  Up to the end of March 2009 such 
PNDs w ere counted in the same category as Cannabis Warnings.  Cannabis w arnings include a small number of community resolutions for possession of cannabis in 2012/13. 
4. From 1 April 2007, new  rules governing these outcomes significantly limited the occasions on w hich they could be applied.
5. Includes data on Youth Restorative Disposals (YRDs) submitted to the Home Office from pilots in eight police force areas (Avon and Somerset, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Metropolitan Police, Norfolk, North Wales, 
Nottinghamshire).  The pilot w as introduced in 2008/09. 

Crime Outcomes in England and Wales 2013/14 
32 
 
Table B: Outcomes by offence group and outcome type, 2009/10 to 2013/14 (excluding fraud) 
 
 
 
 
 
Violence against the person
Outcome type
2009/10
2010/11
2011/12
2012/13
2013/14
Charge/summons
175,908
177,526
170,008
157,835
166,712
Cautions
90,860
80,375
71,977
67,519
60,722
TICs 1
189
141
140
89
102
PNDs 2 3
214
211
198
216
116
Other4 5 6
1,905
2,753
18,177
22,681
37,081
Total recorded offences7
699,011
665,486
626,720
601,139
634,586
Charge/summons
25.2
26.7
27.1
26.3
26.3
Cautions
13.0
12.1
11.5
11.2
9.6
TICs 1
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
PNDs 2 3
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Other4 5 6
0.3
0.4
2.9
3.8
5.8
Sexual offences
Outcome type
2009/10
2010/11
2011/12
2012/13
2013/14
Charge/summons
13,176
13,708
13,519
13,041
15,254
Cautions
1,789
1,732
1,675
1,671
1,416
TICs 1
82
90
82
132
70
PNDs 2 3
11
8
15
11
17
Other4 5 6
107
121
278
428
855
Total recorded offences7
53,006
53,940
52,760
53,620
64,200
Charge/summons
24.9
25.4
25.6
24.3
23.8
Cautions
3.4
3.2
3.2
3.1
2.2
TICs 1
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.2
0.1
PNDs 2 3
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Other4 5 6
0.2
0.2
0.5
0.8
1.3
Number of outcomes
Outcome rate (%) 8
Number of outcomes
Outcome rate (%) 8

Crime Outcomes in England and Wales 2013/14 
33 
 
Table B (contd): Outcomes by offence group and outcome type, 2009/10 to 2013/14 (excluding 
fraud) 
 
Robbery
Outcome type
2009/10
2010/11
2011/12
2012/13
2013/14
Charge/summons
14,367
14,649
14,548
12,477
11,448
Cautions
393
356
283
282
166
TICs 1
622
676
596
716
280
PNDs 2 3
0
0
0
0
0
Other4 5 6
22
17
56
61
103
Total recorded offences7
75,105
76,189
74,688
65,155
57,818
Charge/summons
19.1
19.2
19.5
19.1
19.8
Cautions
0.5
0.5
0.4
0.4
0.3
TICs 1
0.8
0.9
0.8
1.1
0.5
PNDs 2 3
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Other4 5 6
0.0
0.0
0.1
0.1
0.2
Theft offences
Outcome type
2009/10
2010/11
2011/12
2012/13
2013/14
Charge/summons
193,592
202,178
204,095
192,548
203,419
Cautions
61,627
51,208
44,007
35,859
31,750
TICs 1
70,355
66,892
59,729
51,927
39,147
PNDs 2 3
44,314
37,688
32,624
26,498
20,111
Other4 5 6
3,168
4,706
20,765
26,120
44,146
Total recorded offences7
2,132,620
2,107,446
2,074,779
1,900,948
1,845,243
Charge/summons
9.1
9.6
9.8
10.1
11.0
Cautions
2.9
2.4
2.1
1.9
1.7
TICs 1
3.3
3.2
2.9
2.7
2.1
PNDs 2 3
2.1
1.8
1.6
1.4
1.1
Other4 5 6
0.1
0.2
1.0
1.4
2.4
Outcome rate (%) 8
Number of outcomes
Outcome rate (%) 8
Number of outcomes

Crime Outcomes in England and Wales 2013/14 
34 
 
Table B (contd): Outcomes by offence group and outcome type, 2009/10 to 2013/14 (excluding 
fraud) 
 
 
Criminal damage and arson
Outcome type
2009/10
2010/11
2011/12
2012/13
2013/14
Charge/summons
58,305
56,545
52,896
47,909
46,195
Cautions
35,196
28,344
23,086
19,790
18,214
TICs 1
4,245
3,438
2,889
1,961
1,012
PNDs 2 3
9,014
6,036
4,752
3,416
2,047
Other4 5 6
1,297
1,698
9,415
12,025
19,051
Total recorded offences7
800,645
695,084
626,008
529,713
506,190
Charge/summons
7.3
8.1
8.4
9.0
9.1
Cautions
4.4
4.1
3.7
3.7
3.6
TICs 1
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.4
0.2
PNDs 2 3
1.1
0.9
0.8
0.6
0.4
Other4 5 6
0.2
0.2
1.5
2.3
3.8
Drug offences
Outcome type
2009/10
2010/11
2011/12
2012/13
2013/14
Charge/summons
76,637
79,213
76,170
70,949
69,884
Cautions
43,534
42,693
41,382
38,526
34,409
TICs 1
210
141
114
88
94
PNDs 2 3
13,489
14,568
15,929
15,906
14,768
Cannabis Warnings
87,332
80,659
77,933
69,236
63,967
Other4 5 6
182
132
301
356
687
Total recorded offences7
235,584
232,922
229,099
208,002
198,176
Charge/summons
32.5
34.0
33.2
34.1
35.3
Cautions
18.5
18.3
18.1
18.5
17.4
TICs 1
0.1
0.1
0.0
0.0
0.0
PNDs 2 3
5.7
6.3
7.0
7.6
7.5
Cannabis Warnings
37.1
34.6
34.0
33.3
32.3
Other4 5 6
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.2
0.3
Number of outcomes
Outcome rate (%) 8
Number of outcomes
Outcome rate (%) 8

Crime Outcomes in England and Wales 2013/14 
35 
 
Table B (contd): Outcomes by offence group and outcome type, 2009/10 to 2013/14 (excluding 
fraud)  
 
 
Possession of weapons offences
Outcome type
2009/10
2010/11
2011/12
2012/13
2013/14
Charge/summons
18,946
17,883
16,080
13,396
14,067
Cautions
6,400
5,357
4,723
3,920
3,083
TICs 1
13
13
7
3
1
PNDs 2 3
3
10
5
7
2
Other4 5 6
11
32
205
252
398
Total recorded offences7
28,758
26,327
23,688
19,910
20,620
Charge/summons
65.9
67.9
67.9
67.3
68.2
Cautions
22.3
20.3
19.9
19.7
15.0
TICs 1
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
PNDs 2 3
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
Other4 5 6
0.0
0.1
0.9
1.3
1.9
Public order offences
Outcome type
2009/10
2010/11
2011/12
2012/13
2013/14
Charge/summons
71,375
69,408
60,751
52,291
52,519
Cautions
18,879
16,798
13,855
11,634
10,347
TICs 1
117
126
20
44
38
PNDs 2 3
35,586
27,438
20,177
13,762
9,790
Other4 5 6
500
778
3,588
4,386
6,202
Total recorded offences7
188,254
173,081
150,858
132,204
134,433
Charge/summons
37.9
40.1
40.3
39.6
39.1
Cautions
10.0
9.7
9.2
8.8
7.7
TICs 1
0.1
0.1
0.0
0.0
0.0
PNDs 2 3
18.9
15.9
13.4
10.4
7.3
Other4 5 6
0.3
0.4
2.4
3.3
4.6
Outcome rate (%) 8
Number of outcomes
Outcome rate (%) 8
Number of outcomes

Crime Outcomes in England and Wales 2013/14 
36 
 
Table B (contd): Outcomes by offence group and outcome type, 2009/10 to 2013/14 (excluding 
fraud)  
 
 
 
 
Miscellaneous crimes against society
Outcome type
2009/10
2010/11
2011/12
2012/13
2013/14
Charge/summons
29,451
27,603
25,918
24,122
24,491
Cautions
6,195
5,492
4,772
4,442
4,082
TICs 1
411
379
321
237
205
PNDs 2 3
68
51
59
52
44
Other4 5 6
52
138
537
597
822
Total recorded offences7
52,053
48,000
44,981
42,500
45,433
Charge/summons
56.6
57.5
57.6
56.8
53.9
Cautions
11.9
11.4
10.6
10.5
9.0
TICs 1
0.8
0.8
0.7
0.6
0.5
PNDs 2 3
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
Other4 5 6
0.1
0.3
1.2
1.4
1.8
Number of outcomes
Outcome rate (%) 8

Crime Outcomes in England and Wales 2013/14 
37 
 
Table B (contd): Outcomes by offence group and outcome type, 2009/10 to 2013/14 (excluding 
fraud)  
 
 
Total offences9
Outcome type
2009/10
2010/11
2011/12
2012/13
2013/14
Charge/summons
651,757
658,713
633,985
584,568
603,989
Cautions
264,873
232,355
205,760
183,643
164,189
TICs 1
76,244
71,896
63,898
55,197
40,949
PNDs 2 3
102,699
86,010
73,759
59,868
46,895
Cannabis Warnings
87,332
80,659
77,933
69,236
63,967
Other4 5 6
7,244
10,375
53,322
66,906
109,345
Total recorded offences7
4,265,036
4,078,475
3,903,581
3,553,191
3,506,699
Charge/summons
15.3
16.2
16.2
16.5
17.2
Cautions
6.2
5.7
5.3
5.2
4.7
TICs 1
1.8
1.8
1.6
1.6
1.2
PNDs 2 3
2.4
2.1
1.9
1.7
1.3
Cannabis Warnings
2.0
2.0
2.0
1.9
1.8
Other4 5 6
0.2
0.3
1.4
1.9
3.1
1.  Offences asked to be taken into consideration by a court (TICs).
7. Total number of recorded crimes, w hether assigned an outcome or not.
8. The number of crimes assigned an outcome divided by total number of recorded offences.
9. Excludes fraud offences as these are now  all recorded by Action Fraud, and so a consistent time series cannot be show n.
10. Data for the years 2002/03 to 2012/13 contains some estimated data on 'making off w ithout payment' offences, follow ing the 
creation of a back series of data on these outcomes (see notes page)
Number of outcomes
Outcome rate (%) 8
2.  Penalty Notices for Disorder (PNDs) (formerly know n as fixed penalty notices) w ere introduced in several forces in 2003/04 and 
nationally in 2004/05.
3. Cannabis Warnings for possession of cannabis w ere introduced in 2004/05. Since 26 January 2009, PNDs can also be given for an 
offence of cannabis possession.  Up to the end of March 2009 such PNDs w ere counted in the same category as Cannabis Warnings.  
Cannabis w arnings include a small number of community resolutions for possession of cannabis in 2012/13. 
4.  From 1 April 2007, new  rules governing non-sanction detections significantly limited the occasions for w hich such administrative 
disposals can be applied.
5   Includes data on Youth Restorative Disposals (YRDs) submitted to the Home Office as non-sanction detections from pilots in eight 
police force areas (Avon and Somerset, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Metropolitan, Norfolk, North Wales, 
Nottinghamshire).  The pilot w as introduced in 2008/09. 
6. Includes community resolution and restorative justice data submitted on a voluntary basis by some police forces in 2011/12 and 
2012/13. These data w ere then submitted by almost all police forces in 2013/14.

Crime Outcomes in England and Wales 2013/14 
38 
 
Notes 
For details on the Detections framework, in existence until April 2013, please see Crimes Detected in 
England & Wales, 2012/13: 
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/crimes-detected-in-england-and-wales-2012-to-2013 
Outcomes Framework 
The Detections framework was revised to become the Outcomes framework from April 2013. The 
purpose of the revision was: 
 To strengthen police discretion by recognising the full range of possible disposals, including 
community resolutions, rather than incentivising police officers to pursue a particular outcome 
because it is perceived as ‘better’ than others. This will empower officers to exercise their 
professional judgement to ensure that offenders are dealt with by the most appropriate disposal 
available, in the knowledge that no one outcome is favoured over others – the emphasis should 
shift from hitting targets to appropriateness. 
 By strengthening police discretion, the framework should in turn help to promote a more 
victim-oriented approach, focused on providing a better service to victims of crime by 
removing perverse incentives for forces to record and pro-actively pursue certain crimes on the 
basis of locally-set detection targets, and encouraging police officers to consider the needs of 
victims, and the potential for engaging them in the process. 
 To further increase transparency in policing, and trust in national statistics, by providing the 
public with a richer picture of crime, and how it is dealt with in their area. This broader set of 
information can be used as a tool by which the public can hold the police to account, and as a 
basis for constructive engagement between communities, the police, and police and crime 
commissioners. By giving every crime an outcome, we will help the public understand – and 
therefore support or challenge – police activity. 
General Rules section H of Home Office Counting Rules contains information on recording outcomes. 
For Home Office purposes, all recorded crimes will be assigned one of the following outcome types: 
Outcome 1: Charge / Summons: A person has been charged or summonsed for the (irrespective of any 
subsequent acquittal at Court). 
Outcome 2: Caution – youths: A youth offender has been cautioned by the police.  
Outcome 3: Caution – adults: An adult offender has been cautioned by the police.  
Outcome 4: Taken into Consideration (TIC): The offender admits the crime by way of a formal police 
interview and asks for it to be taken into consideration by the court. There must be an interview where the 
suspect has made a clear and reliable admission of the offence and which is corroborated with additional 
verifiable auditable information connecting the suspect to the crime. 
Outcome 5: The Offender has Died: The offender has died before proceeding could be initiated.  
Outcome 6: Penalty Notices for Disorder: A Penalty Notice for Disorder (or other relevant notifiable 
offence) has been lawfully issued under Section 1 – 11 of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001.  
Outcome 7: Cannabis Warning: A warning for Cannabis possession has been issued in accordance 
with ACPO guidance. 
Outcome 8: Community Resolution: A community Resolution (with or without formal Restorative 
Justice) has been applied in accordance with ACPO guidance. 

Crime Outcomes in England and Wales 2013/14 
39 
 
Outcome 9: Prosecution not in the public interest (CPS decision): The Crown Prosecution Service 
(CPS) by virtue of their powers under the Criminal Justice Act 2003 decides not to prosecute or 
authorise any other formal action. 
Outcome 10: Formal action against the offender is not in the public interest (Police decision) (from 
April 2014). 
Outcome 11: Prosecution prevented - Named suspect identified but is below the age of criminal 
responsibility (from April 2014). 
Outcome 12: Prosecution prevented - Named suspect identified but is too ill (physical or mental 
health) to prosecute (from April 2014). 
Outcome 13: Prosecution prevented - Named suspect identified but victim or key witness is dead or 
too ill to give evidence (from April 2014). 
Outcome 14: Evidential difficulties victim based – named suspect not identified: The crime is 
confirmed but the victim declines or is unable to support further police action to identify the offender 
(from April 2014). 
Outcome 15: Named Suspect identified: the crime is confirmed and the victim supports police action 
but evidential difficulties prevent further action (from April 2014): The crime is confirmed and the victim 
supports police action but evidential difficulties prevent further action. This includes cases where the 
suspect has been identified, the victim supports action, the suspect has been circulated as wanted but 
cannot be traced and the crime is finalised pending further action. 
Outcome 16: Named Suspect identified: evidential difficulties prevent further action; victim does not 
support (or has withdrawn support from) police action (from April 2014).  
Outcome 17: Prosecution time limit expired: Suspect identified but prosecution time limit has expired 
(from April 2014).  
Outcome 18: Investigation Complete: No suspect identified (from April 2014): The crime has been 
investigated as far as reasonably possible - case closed pending further investigative opportunities 
becoming available. 
Outcome 19: National Fraud Intelligence Bureau - filed (NFIB only) (from April 2014): A crime of fraud 
has been recorded but has not been allocated for investigation, because the assessment process at 
the NFIB has determined there are insufficient lines of enquiry to warrant such dissemination. 
 
Making off Without Payment Outcomes 
Since April 2013, a new police recorded offence of ‘Making off without payment’ has been included 
within ‘All other theft offences’. These offences and outcomes were previously included in the ‘fraud 
offences’ group. Making off without payment covers offences in which the offender intentionally fails to 
pay for goods or services, for example by driving away from a petrol station, or running off from a taxi 
without paying.  
 
In order to provide a consistent back series of data, the Home Office and ONS requested an ad hoc 
collection from all forces. Following this collection, a back series of data on making off without 
payment outcomes was created. This consisted mostly of actual data received from police forces, but 
also some estimated data where police forces were not able to provide data. This back series has 
been used where outcomes data prior to 2013/14 are shown in this bulletin. 
 
 

Crime Outcomes in England and Wales 2013/14 
40 
 
References 
The Home Office (2013), ‘Crimes detected in England and Wales 2012/13’. Available at: 
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/crimes-detected-in-england-and-wales-2012-to-2013  
 
Office for National Statistics (2014), ‘Crime in England and Wales: Quarterly First Release to March 
2014’. Available at: 
http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/taxonomy/index.html?nscl=Crime+in+England+and+Wales 
 
Office for National Statistics (2014), ‘User Guide to Crime Statistics for England and Wales’. 
Available at: 
http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/taxonomy/index.html?nscl=Crime+in+England+and+Wales 
 
UK Statistics Authority (2014) Assessment Report 268. Available at: 
http://www.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/assessment/assessment/assessment-reports/assessment-report-
268---statistics-on-crime-in-england-and-wales.pdf