FOI reference: FOI-2026-3348
You asked
I request data held within the Home Office Homicide Index and/or associated ONS crime datasets for England and Wales, relating to homicide offences resulting in conviction.
Requested Information:
For each year from 2019/20 to 2024/25, please provide:
1. Convicted Homicide Offenders
The total number of principal offenders convicted of homicide.
A breakdown of these convicted offenders by ethnicity, using standard ONS ethnic group classifications (White, Black, Asian, Mixed, Other).
2. Nationality of Convicted Offenders
Where recorded, the nationality of convicted homicide offenders (UK national / non-UK national).
If possible, a further breakdown of non-UK nationals by broad category (e.g. EU / non-EU), or by individual nationality where disclosure thresholds permit.
3. Combined Ethnicity and Nationality
Where data permits, a cross-tabulation of convicted homicide offenders by ethnicity and nationality (e.g. White-UK, White-non-UK, non-White-UK, non-White-non-UK).
4. Multi-Victim Incidents (Single Offender)
The number of homicide incidents involving two or more victims with a single principal offender.
For these incidents, a breakdown of the convicted offender by ethnicity and nationality, as outlined above.
I am content for data to be aggregated or suppressed where necessary to meet disclosure control requirements.
Where annual figures are too small to disclose, I am content to receive multi-year aggregated totals (e.g. combined three- or five-year periods).
We said
Thank you for your request.
Unfortunately, we do not hold all the information you have requested. We receive Home Office Homicide Index data in the form of aggregate tables ahead of the annual Homicide in England and Wales release. Currently, the latest available data is for the year ending March 2024, with data for the year ending March 2025 to be released on the ONS website at 9:30am on the 5 February 2026.
The total number of suspects convicted of homicide is available on Table 26 of the year ending March 2024 data tables. This table provides figures going back to the year ending December 1969. Worksheet 29 also provides the sentences, if this is of interest.
Table 32 provides a breakdown of principal suspects convicted of homicide by ethnic appearance of both the suspect and the victim. The total for the ethnic appearance of convicted suspects can be found in row 14. Please note that this table only provides figures for the current available year. You may wish to refer to previously released data for the other years you are looking for, though it is important to note that these figures will have been correct at the time of publication, and may have changed since their release.
The Home Office provides us with the aggregate tables for publication, as they are responsible for the collation of police recorded crime data and the Homicide Index. They may be able to assist you further with the other elements of your request and can be contacted via CrimeandPoliceStats@homeoffice.gov.uk.
Should you have any questions in the future regarding ONS Centre for Crime and Justice publications or data releases, please contact us at CrimeStatistics@ons.gov.uk and we will endeavour to help.
Regarding the annual Homicide in England and Wales data for the year ending March 2025, this information is exempt under Section 22(1) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, whereby information is exempt from release if there is a view to publish the information in the future. As a central government department and producer of official statistics, we need to have the freedom to be able to determine our own publication timetables. This is to allow us to deal with the necessary preparation, administration and context of publications. It would be unreasonable to consider disclosure when to do so would undermine our functions.
This exemption is subject to a public interest test. We recognise the desirability of information being freely available and this is considered by ONS when publication schedules are set in accordance with the Code of Practice for Statistics. The need for timely data must be balanced against the practicalities of applying statistical skill and judgement to produce the high quality, assured data needed to inform decision-making. If this balance is incorrectly applied, then we run the risk of decisions being based on inaccurate data which is arguably not in the public interest. This will have an impact on public trust in official statistics in a time when accuracy of official statistics is more important to the public than ever before.