Richard Ault

Office for National Statistics figures show that major cities across England and Wales lost more residents to other parts of the UK than they gained in 2025. London recorded 420,000 departures and 289,000 arrivals, while North Yorkshire had the highest net population gain, with roughly 34,000 arrivals and 26,000 departures. East Riding of Yorkshire ranked second among the areas gaining residents. Around four million people moved between areas, with young adults aged 18 to 30 the most mobile and women accounting for 177,000 more moves than men.

Police recorded 217,000 sexual offences in England and Wales in the year ending March 2026, a four percent annual increase and more than double the 2016 figure. Middlesbrough ranked sixth among areas with the highest rates, recording 856 offences, or 5.5 per 1,000 residents. The article notes that increased reporting may partly explain the rise, while conviction outcomes remain low: 4.7 percent of reported sexual offences led to a charge.