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| Crime rate set to double after true scale of internet offences is laid bare | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| There were more than 5.8m incidents of cybercrime in the last year, the Office for National Statistics has said, far higher than previously thought and enough to nearly double the crime rate in England and Wales. | There were more than 5.8m incidents of cybercrime in the last year, the Office for National Statistics has said, far higher than previously thought and enough to nearly double the crime rate in England and Wales. |
| The first official estimate of the scale of online shopping scams, virus attacks, theft of bank details and other online offences is much higher than an initial ONS estimate in October last year, which put the annual figure at 3.8m, or 40% of all criminal offences. | The first official estimate of the scale of online shopping scams, virus attacks, theft of bank details and other online offences is much higher than an initial ONS estimate in October last year, which put the annual figure at 3.8m, or 40% of all criminal offences. |
| Related: Extreme online security measures to protect your digital privacy – a guide | Related: Extreme online security measures to protect your digital privacy – a guide |
| The ONS says one in ten adults have been a victim of cybercrime in the past year. The chance of being a victim is the same regardless of social class or location. The 5.8 million offences are made up of 3.8m fraud offences, which includes bank and credit card fraud, and 2m computer misuse offences, such as virus attacks. | The ONS says one in ten adults have been a victim of cybercrime in the past year. The chance of being a victim is the same regardless of social class or location. The 5.8 million offences are made up of 3.8m fraud offences, which includes bank and credit card fraud, and 2m computer misuse offences, such as virus attacks. |
| The latest figures for all offences excluding online crime in the 12 months to March 2015 show that there were an estimated 6.3m offences – 6% fewer than in the previous year. | The latest figures for all offences excluding online crime in the 12 months to March 2015 show that there were an estimated 6.3m offences – 6% fewer than in the previous year. |
| Police recorded crime figures show that the murder rate rose by 34 to 571 homicides, the highest rate for five years. | Police recorded crime figures show that the murder rate rose by 34 to 571 homicides, the highest rate for five years. |
| The police figures also show a 27% rise in offences against the person and a 21% increase in sexual offences. Incidents of revenge porn and harassment accounted for nearly half the rise in personal violence that did not involve physical injury. | The police figures also show a 27% rise in offences against the person and a 21% increase in sexual offences. Incidents of revenge porn and harassment accounted for nearly half the rise in personal violence that did not involve physical injury. |
| The confirmation of the high volume of online crime gives the first official snapshot of the scale of threat from online attacks and scams. However, ONS statisticians said “it would be misleading to conclude that this means actual crime levels has doubled, since the survey previously did not cover these offences.” | The confirmation of the high volume of online crime gives the first official snapshot of the scale of threat from online attacks and scams. However, ONS statisticians said “it would be misleading to conclude that this means actual crime levels has doubled, since the survey previously did not cover these offences.” |
| The first estimate of 5.8m online offences is based on a 9,000 sample size from six months of interviews from the crime survey of England and Wales. Only when the ONS has 12 months of data in January will the online crime figures be incorporated into the headline crime rate for England and Wales. | |
| Separate Home Office figures for police officer numbers show they fell by a further 3,126 last year to 124,000 – the lowest level since 2003. | Separate Home Office figures for police officer numbers show they fell by a further 3,126 last year to 124,000 – the lowest level since 2003. |