The economic and social costs of crime estimates are important in helping to develop an understanding of the wider costs and benefits associated with changes in the number of crimes.
The report estimates the total costs of crime in England and Wales in 2015/16 to be approximately £50bn for crimes against individuals and £9bn for crimes against businesses. Violent crimes make up the largest proportion of the total costs of individual crime – almost three quarters – but only one third of the number of crimes.