Number of people who have failed to return the 2021 Census by Borough and fines issued

You asked

​Please send me the following information:

1. The percentage (and actual number), by Borough, of households which failed to return the 2021 census.

2. The number of prosecutions (or fines issued) for failing to return the census form.

We said

Thank you for your request.

Data collection for Census 2021 is still ongoing. We are working hard to ensure that people who have not yet taken part in the census are given the support and encouragement they need to complete the questionnaire. As data collection is ongoing and people are still able to respond, we do not hold a final figure for the number of households who have not completed a census return.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) does not have the power to impose fines under the Census Act 1920. Fines can be imposed by the courts as a result of a successful prosecution, and the ONS works closely with the Crown Prosecution Service on bringing cases to court where necessary.

The main objective of the census non-compliance process is to persuade the few people who refuse to complete a questionnaire to do so; as such, people can avoid the risk of a fine for non-completion at any stage by completing the census. As non-compliance work has not yet begun for Census 2021, there have been no prosecutions or fines for non-completion of the census.