FOI reference: FOI-2026-3636
You asked
Please provide data on the number of murder cases solved each year through the years 1970 to 2025 for the UK.
We said
Thank you for your request.
We produce detailed statistics on homicides in England and Wales only in our Homicide in England and Wales releases. The latest edition is for the year ending March 2025, with appendix tables also available.
Please note that the term "homicide" includes: murder, manslaughter, corporate manslaughter and infanticide.
Appendix Table 25 shows the number of offences currently recorded as homicide in England and Wales, by outcome for principal suspect; however, we do not hold a complete breakdown for those that have been "solved".
We only hold data on homicides in England and Wales; homicide data for Scotland are published by the Scottish Government, while homicide data for Northern Ireland are published by the Police Service for Northern Ireland.
Homicide cases are often complex and can take time to reach an outcome in court. The case outcomes for suspects of homicides recorded each year will change as cases progress through the criminal justice system and more information becomes available. For example, a case reported to the police in one year may not appear with an outcome after investigation until the following year.
Our earliest "Homicide in England and Wales" release is the year ending March 2017 edition, with data on outcomes available back to the year ending March 2007. Prior to this, detailed data on homicides were published by the Home Office.
Detailed data regarding homicides is sourced from the Homicide Index, which is held and collated by the Home Office. They may be able to assist you further with your request and can be contacted via: crimeandpolicestats@homeoffice.gov.uk.
If you have any crime-related queries in the future, please email crimestatistics@ons.gov.uk and we will endeavour to help.