"Figure 7: Homicides have increased over the last four years, indicating a change to the long-term downward trend","" "England and Wales, year endinig March 2003 to year ending March 2018","" "","" "Notes","1. Police recorded crime data are not designated as National Statistics. 2. Data on homicide offences given in these police recorded crime data will differ from data from the Home Office Homicide Index, which are published annually by Office for National Statistics, last released as part of [Homicide in England and Wales: year ending March 2017](https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/articles/homicideinenglandandwales/yearendingmarch2017). Police recorded crime data on homicide represent the recording decision of the police based on the available information at the time the offence comes to their attention. Homicide Index data take account of the charging decision and court outcome in cases that have gone to trial. It is not uncommon for offences initially recorded as murder by the police to be charged or convicted as manslaughter at court." "Unit","Number of offences" "","" "","Homicide","Excludes 172 homicide victims of Harold Shipman","Excludes 52 homicide victims of 7 July bombings","Excludes 96 homicide victims of Hillsborough","Excludes 35 victims of Manchester Arena bombings and London terror attacks" "Mar 03","1047","875","","","" "Mar 04 ","904","","","","" "Mar 05","868","","","","" "Mar 06","764","","712","","" "Mar 07","758","","","","" "Mar 08","775","","","","" "Mar 09","664","","","","" "Mar 10","620","","","","" "Mar 11","639","","","","" "Mar 12","553","","","","" "Mar 13","558","","","","" "Mar 14","533","","","","" "Mar 15","539","","","","" "Mar 16","575","","","","" "Mar 17","723","","","627","" "Mar 18","736","","","","701"