What it means: the share of offences recorded by police in England and Wales that ended with a suspect being charged or summonsed to court, the main measure of crimes being solved. Most other crimes are closed without a suspect being identified or because of evidential difficulties, such as the victim not supporting a prosecution. Recent years can rise slightly as investigations still open are completed. Fraud reported to Action Fraud is not included. A change of half a point or more on a year earlier counts.

Source: Home Office, crime outcomes in England and Wales, year ending March 2026, table 1.3.