The Office for National Statistics have released new figures on homicides in England and Wales for the year ending March 2025.

Ellen Milazzo, Head of the National Homicide Service, said:

“It is encouraging to see a drop in the number of homicides to the lowest level in a decade. In particular, the fall in the number of teenage homicides, and those related to knife crime, is to be welcomed.

“Nevertheless, one case of murder or manslaughter is still one too many. These crimes change families forever, shatter lives, and traumatise communities. Behind every homicide is a person deprived of a life, and friends and family robbed of a loved one.

“And while it is positive to see a fall in the number of male victims, it is concerning that the number of female victims has remained similar. The racial disparity among murder victims is also alarming, with black people four times as likely to be victims of homicide as white people. The government must get a grip on these issues so that we can continue to see further falls in murder and manslaughter.”