Computer Misuse Incidents Fall 21% in Latest Crime Survey Data

Crime Survey for England and Wales reports significant decrease in unauthorised access to personal information in year ending September 2025.

Computer misuse incidents across England and Wales have dropped by 21% to around 686,000 cases in the year ending September 2025, according to new data from the Office for National Statistics. The Crime Survey for England and Wales shows this decrease was primarily driven by a 20% fall in incidents of unauthorised access to personal information, which declined to around 571,000 incidents.

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The Numbers Behind the Drop

The latest figures represent a dramatic shift from historical trends. When compared with the year ending March 2017 – the earliest comparable year for this data – computer misuse incidents have plummeted by 61%, down from around 1.8 million incidents. This major reduction suggests improving protection of personal information across the population.

However, the picture becomes more complex when examining police records. Action Fraud recorded a contrasting 29% increase in computer misuse offences for the same period, reaching 62,151 offences. This stark difference highlights a persistent issue: many victims simply don’t report incidents to police.

Why the Data Matters

The Crime Survey for England and Wales is widely regarded as the most reliable source for understanding fraud and computer misuse experienced by individuals. Unlike police records, which depend on victims coming forward, the survey captures unreported incidents through direct questioning of households.

At the same time, the Office for Statistics Regulation published a wide-ranging review of fraud and computer misuse statistics in April 2025, assessing the quality of these measures. This review acknowledged that recorded crime series for computer misuse cannot provide reliable trend data because such a large proportion of victims never contact Action Fraud.

The Bigger Picture

Despite the encouraging decline in computer misuse, fraud remains the most prevalent crime captured by the survey. It consistently accounts for around two-fifths of all crimes experienced by respondents, underlining the ongoing threat to personal security and finances.

The computer misuse module was added to the Crime Survey in 2017, with new questions afterwards introduced to better capture the nature of these offences. This evolution in data collection helps provide a clearer picture of how criminals are adapting their methods and how effectively the public is protecting itself.

Additionally, the discrepancy between survey estimates and police records demonstrates why multiple data sources are essential for understanding the full scope of computer misuse. Even as the survey suggests fewer people are experiencing these crimes, the increase in reported offences to Action Fraud could indicate either heightened criminal activity in certain areas or improved detection and reporting mechanisms.

Key Takeaways

Computer misuse incidents fell 21% to 686,000 cases in year ending September 2025

Unauthorised access to personal information decreased by 20% to 571,000 incidents

Long-term trend shows 61% reduction since 2017, indicating improved personal data protection

What This Means for Kent Residents

Even as no Kent-specific data is available in these national statistics, the trends apply across the South East region including local households and businesses. Kent residents should remain vigilant about protecting personal information online, even as overall incidents decline nationally. For localised cybercrime prevention advice and support, residents can contact Kent Police, who provide guidance tailored to regional threats and vulnerabilities.

Published: 26 March 2026

Source: @ONS on X. This article has been researched and rewritten with editorial balance by Kent Local News.