There were * blackmail offences reported by the police in England and Wales in 2025/26, compared with * in the previous year. Between 2002/03 and 2013/14, the number of blackmail offences fluctuated from a low of in 2007/08 to a high of . From 2014/15 onwards, however, the number of offences has increased dramatically, reaching a peak in the most reporting year. This rise in blackmail has also occurred in Scotland, which saw extortion crimes reach offences in 2023/24, compared with just *** in 2019/20. In Northern Ireland, there were *blackmail offences in 2023/24, compared with *** in 2019/20.
What is driving the increase in blackmail?
The steep rise in blackmail and extortion offences recently is likely related to the proliferation of cyber crime in the United Kingdom. In a 2019 survey, for example, five percent of respondents reported being the victims of device hacking-related extortion at least once. A 2023 global survey on cybercrime, also revealed that around a quarter of respondents had been the victim of an extortion e-mail scam. Extortion based on the threat to distribute intimate images, or sextortion, is another aspect of the increase in blackmail crime. There has been a steep rise in the number of revenge porn reports, with women in particular being targeted by online intimate image abuse.
Crime on the rise since the mid-2010s
While not rising as dramatically as blackmail offences, overall crime in England and Wales has also been on the rise. In 2022/23, for example, there were **** million crime offences, compared with just **** million in 2013/14. Although there are undoubtedly several factors that have influenced this overall rise in crime, the cuts to police funding between 2009/10 and 2016/17, along with the decline in police officers that occurred as a result, are possibly two of the most important reasons. Other areas of the justice system are also under significant pressure, with courts struggling with a backlog of cases, and prisons operating very close to capacity in recent month.Â
Profit from the additional features of your individual account
Currently, you are using a shared account. To use individual functions (e.g., mark statistics as favourites, set
statistic alerts) please log in with your personal account.
If you are an admin, please authenticate by logging in again.
Learn more about how ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ can support your business.
Office for National Statistics (UK). (July 23, 2026). Number of blackmail offences recorded in England and Wales from 2002/03 to 2025/26 (in 1,000s) [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Retrieved July 31, 2026, from /statistics/303565/blackmail-in-england-and-wales-uk-y-on-y/
Office for National Statistics (UK). "Number of blackmail offences recorded in England and Wales from 2002/03 to 2025/26 (in 1,000s)." Chart. July 23, 2026. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Accessed July 31, 2026. /statistics/303565/blackmail-in-england-and-wales-uk-y-on-y/
Office for National Statistics (UK). (2026). Number of blackmail offences recorded in England and Wales from 2002/03 to 2025/26 (in 1,000s). ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc.. Accessed: July 31, 2026. /statistics/303565/blackmail-in-england-and-wales-uk-y-on-y/
Office for National Statistics (UK). "Number of Blackmail Offences Recorded in England and Wales from 2002/03 to 2025/26 (in 1,000s)." ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc., 23 Jul 2026, /statistics/303565/blackmail-in-england-and-wales-uk-y-on-y/
Office for National Statistics (UK), Number of blackmail offences recorded in England and Wales from 2002/03 to 2025/26 (in 1,000s) ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, /statistics/303565/blackmail-in-england-and-wales-uk-y-on-y/ (last visited July 31, 2026)
Number of blackmail offences recorded in England and Wales from 2002/03 to 2025/26 (in 1,000s) [Graph], Office for National Statistics (UK), July 23, 2026. [Online]. Available: /statistics/303565/blackmail-in-england-and-wales-uk-y-on-y/
