22 April 2025, 14:30

By Dr Madeleine Sumption

The role of migrants in crime is one of those issues that generates strong responses whatever side of the debate people sit on.

People who are broadly sympathetic toward migrants see them as a group that is often demonised and who are singled out for blame, while crimes committed by non-migrants don't mention the immigration status of the perpetrator. For people who have concerns about migration, the idea of non-citizens committing offences symbolises a rejection of British values and lack of control over who comes to the UK.

Stepping back from this emotive debate, there some basic empirical questions. To what extent do non-UK citizens in the UK commit crimes, and why and when does it happen? Do non-citizens with criminal records have the same risk factors as Brits, such as low income and age? How many offenders are people with permanent status who have lived in the country for decades, versus those who have arrived more recently? How many came on........

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