The total number of sunshine hours recorded in the United Kingdom in 2024 was over 1,274. This was a decrease from the previous year, which had 1,435 sunshine hours. Since 1930, the highest number of sunshine hours recorded in a year in the UK occurred in 1995, at 1,580.

The amount of monthly hours of sunshine in England follows a similar pattern each year, with the longest durations occurring in Spring and Summer. During the period in consideration, the highest amount of monthly sunshine hours was recorded in May 2020, at over 299 hours. This was more hours of sunlight than the UK average. Overcast and rainyIn addition to low periods of sunshine, England is also susceptible to precipitation. Between 2015 and 2023, the greatest number of days in which more than 1mm of rain fell was 20.4 days in March of the latter year. The driest month was May 2020, with just 2.3 rain days. Europe’s gloomiest and sunniest citiesThe United Kingdom has some of Europe's cloudiest cities, such as Glasgow, London and Manchester. On the other hand, most of Europe’s sunniest cities are located in Spain, with Alicante taking the lead at 349 hours of monthly average sunshine.

The lowest average daily sun hours in the United Kingdom typically occur in January and December. The highest daily sun hours recorded since 2015 was in May 2020, at an average of 9.7 hours per day. In comparison, May 2024 saw 5.6 hours of daily sunshine. High levels of monthly sunlight in 2018 Since 2014, the pattern of total monthly hours of sunlight remained relatively similar up until 2018. That year there was a noticeable increase in sunlight hours in May, June and July – with May recording 241 hours of sunlight. The following year the pattern returned to normal, but a significant increase was again recorded in 2020. Annual sun hours The average annual number of daily sun hours in the UK has remained above four hours per day since 2001, but has not increased above five. Daily sun hours were highest in 2003 at 4.9 hours per day. The following years saw sun hours remain at a similar level, until figures increased again to 4.9 hours in 2022.

The total monthly hours of sunlight in the UK follow a similar pattern each year. May typically has the highest monthly hours of sunshine, peaking at nearly 267 hours in 2020. Unsurprisingly, the lowest hours of sunlight occur at the end of each year.Little sunshine throughout the dayThe average annual number of daily sun hours has seen little change since the turn of the century, with the lowest average number being recorded in 2012 at 4 hours and the highest average being 4.9 in 2003 and 2022. Instruments such as the Campbell-Stokes sunshine recorder are used to measure sunshine duration. However, more modern equipment is now being used as the Campbell-Stokes recorder overestimates sunshine duration. England gets the most sunshineAlthough sunshine isn't the most common sight throughout the United Kingdom, on average England receives the most monthly hours. In recent years, the longest monthly duration of sunlight was recorded in May 2020, at an average of 267 hours. In comparison, Scotland received just 215 hours of sunshine in the same month.

Since the turn of the century there has been little change in the average daily sunshine hours in the United Kingdom. In 2024, an average of 3.8 daily sun hours was recorded. This year saw the lowest amount of daily sunlight during the period in consideration, while 2003 and 2022 saw some of the highest values, with 4.9 hours of daily sunlight. Summer sun Unsurprisingly it is the spring and summer months that receive the most daily sunshine hours. The longest duration was recorded in 2020, when the average daily sunshine in the second quarter reached 7.9 hours. In 2023, the second quarter of the year had an average of seven daily sun hours. In comparison, that same year's first and fourth quarters recorded just 2.7 and 2.1 hours of daily sunshine, respectively. Historical sunshine In 1930, the average annual sunshine hours amounted to 1,290 hours. Sunlight has traditionally been recorded using a Campbell-Stokes sunshine recorder, which was developed in the late 19th century. However, measurements from this instrument can overestimate sunshine duration. Whilst still often used at non automated climate stations, more accurate modern sunshine sensors are in use these days at automated stations.

About London London is the capital city of England and the United Kingdom, located in the southeast part of the country. It is a global city and a major center for finance, commerce, culture, and tourism. With a population of over 8 million people, it is the most populous city in the UK and one of the largest cities in Europe. London is famous for its iconic landmarks such as Big Ben, the Tower Bridge, Buckingham Palace, and the London Eye, as well as its world-renowned museums, art galleries, theaters, and restaurants. The city is also known for its diverse population and multicultural atmosphere, with over 300 languages spoken within its borders.

About Dataset This dataset contains daily weather observations for London, UK from January 1, 2000 to January 1, 2023. The data is collected from Meteostat. The dataset contains 10 columns with 8402 rows.

The annual number of rain days in the UK has fluctuated over the past three decades. In 2024, there were 164 days in which 1 mm or more of rain fell. The year with the greatest number of rain days was 2000 when 178.5 days had at least 1 mm of rain. England is the driest country in the UK England is on average the driest country in the United Kingdom. In 2024, the country recorded an annual rainfall of 1020 mm. After England, Northern Ireland is the country that receives the least amount of rainfall across the UK. Wettest regions in Britain Despite Cardiff being the wettest city in the United Kingdom according to the Met Office, Scotland had received on average the largest volume of annual rainfall in the past ten years. The northern and western regions of the UK – where rainfall is arriving from the Atlantic – tend to be the wettest in the country.

The highest average temperature recorded in 2024 until November was in August, at 16.8 degrees Celsius. Since 2015, the highest average daily temperature in the UK was registered in July 2018, at 18.7 degrees Celsius. The summer of 2018 was the joint hottest since institutions began recording temperatures in 1910. One noticeable anomaly during this period was in December 2015, when the average daily temperature reached 9.5 degrees Celsius. This month also experienced the highest monthly rainfall in the UK since before 2014, with England, Wales, and Scotland suffering widespread flooding. Daily hours of sunshine Unsurprisingly, the heat wave that spread across the British Isles in 2018 was the result of particularly sunny weather. July 2018 saw an average of 8.7 daily sun hours in the United Kingdom. This was more hours of sun than was recorded in July 2024, which only saw 5.8 hours of sun. Temperatures are on the rise Since the 1960s, there has been an increase in regional temperatures across the UK. Between 1961 and 1990, temperatures in England averaged nine degrees Celsius, and from 2013 to 2022, average temperatures in the country had increased to 10.3 degrees Celsius. Due to its relatively southern location, England continues to rank as the warmest country in the UK.

2016 - London LUMA IML IMU Scintillometer - IRT Camera - Weather Station- Ceilometer Raw Data

1. Site:
2. Country\City\Location: UK London
3. IML -Islington Michael Cliffe, Lower Level
4. Latitude=51.526055, Londgitude = -0.106186
5. From 2013-07-26 to ongoing
6. Instrument--- Model-----------------Brand---Serial.Number---Height (m)-Orientation (deg)-- Start (DoY)---End (DoY)
7. Davis Station Davis Vantage Pro Plus Davis A00422A002 ------26-------- 338---------------- 2013200 2014212
8. Davis Station Davis Vantage Pro Plus Davis A00422A002_6410--26-------- 338 ----------------2014213 2018-10-31

1. Site:
2. Country\City\Location: UK London
3. IMU -Islington Michael Cliffe, Upper Level
4. Latitude=51.526148, Londgitude = -0.106086
5. From 2013-08-01 to 2018-10-31
6. Instrument-------------Model------------------Brand---------------Serial.Number---Height (m)-Orientation (deg)-- Start (DoY)---End (DoY)
7. Davis Station----------Davis Vantage Pro Plus Davis-------------- A00422A003------ 91 --------342 -------------2013200 -------2014212
8. Scintillometer-------- LASMkII ---------------Kipp & Zonen--------120029-----------? ---------?-----------------2014099 2100001
9. BLS -------------------BLS900 ----------------Scintec-------------T-E-0470--------- ?------?-------------------- 2014180 2100001
10. Davis Station ---------Davis Vantage Pro Plus Davis-------------- A00422A003_6410 -91 ------342----------------- 2014213 2100001
11. Ceilometer ------------CL31-A ----------------Vaisala-------------B20201 ----------91 ------0 -------------------2016105 2100001
12. Sonic Anemometer------ CSAT3 -----------------Campbell Scientific-0194-2-----------91 ------240 -----------------2016120 2100001
13. Gas Analyser ----------Li7500A ---------------Li-Cor--------------75H-1973---------91 ------0-------------------- 2016120 2100001
14. Infrared Radiometer--- PIR -------------------Eppley--------------29757F3----------91 ------0.00825;0.0347;0.98;2;0.964;17.6 2016125 2100001
15. Spectral Pyranometer-- PSP -------------------Eppley--------------29765F3----------91 ------0.00825;0.0347;0.98;2;0.964;17.6 2016125 2100001
16. Quantum (PAR)--------- SKL2620/5------------- Skye Instruments----0206 30661-------91 ----------------------------2016125 2100001
17. UVA Sensor ------------SKU420/5-------------- Skye Instruments----0206 30655------ 91 ----------------------------2016125 2100001
18. UVB Sensor ------------SKU430---------------- Skye Instruments----0206 30658------ 91 ----------------------------2016125 2100001
19. Sunshine Pyranometer---SPN1------------------ Delta-T-------------A517-------------91 ----------------------------2016125 2100001
20. Net Radiometer --------CNR1------------------ Kipp & Zonen------------------------ 91 --------1;0;1;0 2016125 2100001

1. Sensor: BLS - Scintec BLS - Boundary Layer Scintilometer Scintec BLS900
2. Serial:T-E-0470; Suffix:A
3. Instrument deployment history;At;From;To
4. BLS_NTT_NDT at NDT;2011-05-20;2011-11-23
5. BLS_NTT_NDT at NDT;2012-01-11;2012-03-08
6. BLS_NGT_NDT at NDT;2012-03-29;2012-09-21
7. BLS_NTT_NGT at NGT;2012-09-21;2013-02-26
8. BLS Rx at BTT;2014-06-29;2017-03-16
9. BLS Rx at SWT;2017-04-06

1. Sensor: Kipp & Zonen LAS150 Large Aperture Scintillometer
2. Serial: 60029;Suffix:A
3. LAS150_KGG_BTT at BTT;2010-03-09;2011-09-23
4. LAS150_NDT_NTT at NTT;2011-10-12;2011-11-03
5. LAS150_NDT_NGT at NGT;2012-01-11;2012-09-21
1. Sensor: Kipp & Zonen LASMKII Large Aperture Scintillometer
2. Serial: 120029;Suffix:A
3. Instrument deployment history;At;From;To
4. LAS_MKII_29_NGT_NTT at NTT;2012-02-01;2013-02-26
5. LASMkII Rx at IMU;2014-04-09;2018-10-31
6. Serial: 120028,Suffix:B
7. Instrument deployment history;At;From;To
8. LAS_MKII_28_NTT_NGT at NGT;2012-02-22;2012-09-21
9. LAS_MKII_28_NGT_NDT at NDT;2012-09-21;2013-02-26
10. LASMkII Rx at BCT;2014-04-01;2017-03-16;
11. SouthwarkLAS at SWT;2017-08-25
1. DAVIS Weather station
2. Serial: A00422A003; Suffix:A
3. Instrument deployment history;At;From;To
4. Davis weather station B - no raw data at KSS45W;2011-04-21;2011-05-16
5. Davis weather station - CHECK DATE - no raw data in 2011 at NK;2011-05-16;2011-05-23
6. Davis weather station at NDT;2011-05-24;2011-09-01
7. Davis weather station at NGT;2012-01-10;2013-02-27
8. Davis weather station B at KSSW;2013-04-08;2013-06-03
9. Davis weather station at IMU;2013-07-19;2014-07-31
10. Davis weather station at IMU;2014-08-01
11. Events history;Scope;Type;From;To
12. Repair;2014-08-01 00:00
13. Serial: A00422A002; Suffix:B
14. Instrument deployment history;At;From;To
15. Davis weather station A - check end date - no raw data at KSS45W;2011-04-21;2011-09-01
16. Davis weather station at NDT;2011-09-02;2013-02-27
17. Davis weather station A at KSSW;2013-04-08;2013-06-03
18. Davis weather station at IML;2013-07-19;2014-07-31
19. Davis weather station at IML;2014-08-01;2017-11-29
20. Events history;Scope;Type;From;To;serial
21. Repair;2014-08-01 00:00;2014-08-01 00:00;
22. Serial: AJ130401024;Suffix:C
23. Instrument deployment history;At;From;To
24. Davis weather station at BCTW;2014-01-18;2014-03-20
25. Davis3 at BCT;2014-03-20;2018-10-31
26. Serial: AK130521017;Suffix:D
27. Instrument deployment history;At;From;To
28. Davis weather station at BGH;2014-01-18;2018-10-31
29. Serial: AK130521018;Suffix:E
30. Instrument deployment history;At;From;To
31. Davis weather station at BFCL;2014-01-18;2018-10-31
32. Serial: AZ170310004;Suffix:F
33. Instrument deployment history;At;From;To
34. Davis weather station at IML;2017-11-29;2018-10-31
1. Thermal Camera - note there are different field of views
2. Optris PI160 Thermal Camera
3. Serial: 12080018;Suffix:E
4. Serial: CC26_LC26; Suffix:A
5. Serial: PI12070026_O12060012; Suffix:B
6. Serial: C12070026_L12060012; Suffix:C
7. Instrument deployment history;At;From;To
8. C26 at CT;2014-06-16;2014-08-07;
9. C26 at CT;2014-08-09;2014-10-01
10. C26 at CUB;2017-09-07;2017-10-13
11. C26 at RMR;2017-10-26;2017-11-06
12. C26 at RAG;2018-01-16;2018-01-30
13. C26 at RAG;2018-01-31;2018-08-15
14. Serial: C12060057_L12060030;Suffix:D
15. Instrument deployment history;At;From;To
16. C57 at CT;2014-06-16;2014-09-26
17. Serial: C12080019_L12080002;Suffix:F
18. Instrument deployment history;At;From;To
19. C19 at CT;2014-07-15;2014-09-26
20. Serial: C12080103_L17050030;Suffix:G
21. Instrument deployment history;At;From;To
22. C03 at IMU;2017-07-28;2017-08-02
23. C03 at IMU;2017-08-04;2017-09-29
24. C03 at IMU;2017-09-30;2017-10-14
25. C03 at RMR;2017-10-26;2017-11-06
26. C03 at RAG;2018-01-16;2018-01-30
27. C03 at RAG;2018-01-31;2018-08-15
28. Serial: C12080019_L17050029;Suffix:H
29. Instrument deployment history;At;From;To
30. C19 at IMU;2017-07-13;2017-07-27
31. C19 at IMU;2017-07-29;2017-08-15
32. Serial: C12080017_L17050013;Suffix:I
33. Instrument deployment history;At;From;To
34. C17 at IMU;2017-07-17;2017-08-02
35. C17 at IMU;2017-08-04;2017-09-02
36. C17 at IMU;2017-09-04;2017-11-07
37. Serial: C12080016_L16060004;Suffix:J
38. Instrument deployment history;At;From;To
39. C16 at IMU;2017-07-22;2017-10-24
40. C16 at IMU;2017-10-26;2017-11-10
41. Serial: C12070069_L17050015;Suffix:K
42. Instrument deployment history;At;From;To
43. C69 at WCT;2017-07-22;2017-08-02
44. C69 at WCT;2017-08-04;2017-11-10
45. Serial: C12060057_L16080014;Suffix:L
46. Instrument deployment history;At;From;To
47. C57 at WCT;2017-07-22;2017-08-02
48. C57 at WCT;2017-08-04;2017-11-10
49. Serial: C12080019_L17050029_NORMALDISTORTIONCORRECTION;Suffix:M
50. Instrument deployment history;At;From;To
51. C19 at IMU;2017-08-17;2017-11-10
1. For KZ sensors there are more than 1- so directories or filenames give serial number
3. Receiver end is site name
1. Files: zipped
2. Example 20130101_davis.txt
3. Year:2013
4. Month: 019
5. Date: 01
6. davis: instrument
7. Format: ascii, seeDavis Vantage Pro Manual
1. Files::
2. OptrisPI Camera raw images, one per time step, CXX - gives serial number

The wettest months in the United Kingdom tend to be at the start and end of the year. In the period of consideration, the greatest measurement of rainfall was nearly 217 millimeters, recorded in December 2015. The lowest level of rainfall was recorded in April 2021, at 20.6 millimeters. Rainy days The British Isles are known for their wet weather, and in 2024 there were approximately 164 rain days in the United Kingdom. A rainday is when more than one millimeter of rain falls within a day. Over the past 30 years, the greatest number of rain days was recorded in the year 2000. In that year, the average annual rainfall in the UK amounted to 1,242.1 millimeters. Climate change According to the Met Office, climate change in the United Kingdom has resulted in the weather getting warmer and wetter. In 2022, the annual average temperature in the country reached a new record high, surpassing 10 degrees Celsius for the first time. This represented an increase of nearly two degrees Celsius when compared to the annual average temperature recorded in 1910. In a recent survey conducted amongst UK residents, almost 80 percent of respondents had concerns about climate change.

The UK hourly solar radiation data contain the amount of solar irradiance received during the hour ending at the specified time. All sites report 'global' radiation amounts. This is also known as 'total sky radiation' as it includes both direct solar irradiance and 'diffuse' irradiance as a result of light scattering. Some sites also provide separate diffuse and direct irradiation amounts, depending on the instrumentation at the site. For these the sun's path is tracked with two pyrometers - one where the path to the sun is blocked by a suitable disc to allow the scattered sunlight to be measured to give the diffuse measurement, while the other has a tube pointing at the sun to measure direct solar irradiance whilst blanking out scattered sun light.

For details about the different measurements made and the limited number of sites making them please see the MIDAS Solar Irradiance table linked to in the online resources section of this record.

This version supersedes the previous version of this dataset and a change log is available in the archive, and in the linked documentation for this record, detailing the differences between this version and the previous version. The change logs detail new, replaced and removed data. These include the addition of data for calendar year 2023.

The data were collected by observation stations operated by the Met Office across the UK and transmitted within the following message types: SYNOP, HCM, AWSHRLY, MODLERAD, ESAWRADT and DRADR35 messages. The data spans from 1947 to 2023.

This dataset is part of the Midas-open dataset collection made available by the Met Office under the UK Open Government Licence, containing only UK mainland land surface observations owned or operated by the Met Office. It is a subset of the fuller, restricted Met Office Integrated Data Archive System (MIDAS) Land and Marine Surface Stations dataset, also available through the Centre for Environmental Data Analysis - see the related dataset section on this record.

There were around 15 rainy days in the United Kingdom in July 2024. A rainday is when one millimeter or more of rain occurs in a day. The highest number of rain days was recorded in December 2015, at 22.2 The fourth quarter was the wettestThe wettest periods of the year tend to be the start and the end. In 2023, the fourth quarter was the wettest, with an average of 419 mm of rainfall. October and December of that year recorded the highest monthly rainfall levels at 177 and 189 mm, respectively. Regional weatherDue to the United Kingdom’s geographical location and landscape, weather conditions can vary greatly. Scotland is, on average, the wettest country. Most rainfall is concentrated in the Scottish Highlands, as precipitation often occurs in mountainous regions. As rainfall comes in from the Atlantic, the northern and western parts of the UK are most susceptible to precipitation. This explains why England is the driest of all the regions, as rain deposits reduce as they move east.

The annual mean temperature in the United Kingdom has fluctuated greatly since 1990. Temperatures during this period were at their highest in 2022, surpassing 10 degrees Celsius. In 2010, the mean annual temperature stood at 7.94 degrees, the lowest recorded during this time. Daily temperatures Average daily temperatures have remained stable since the turn of the century, rarely dropping below 10 degrees Celsius. In 2010, they dropped to a low of nine degrees Celsius. The peak average daily temperature was recorded in 2022 when it reached 11.2 degrees. This was an increase of one degree Celsius compared to the long-term mean, and the most positive deviation during the period of consideration. Highs and lows The maximum average temperature recorded across the UK since 2015 was in July 2018. This month saw a maximum temperature of 22.6 degrees Celsius. In comparison, the lowest monthly minimum temperature was in February of the same year, at just minus 0.6 degrees. This was an especially cold February, as the previous year the minimum temperature for this month was 2.6 degrees.

In March 2023, there were***** rain days in England. This was the greatest number of rain days recorded in a month during the period in consideration. For comparison, in March 2025, there were just *** rain days. February 2020 was also an especially wet month in the United Kingdom, with an average rainfall of ***** millimeters. The month with the fewest number of rain days during this period was May 2020, with just *** rain days.

The United Kingdom's hottest summer ever recorded was in 2018, with an average temperature of 15.76 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, 2023 saw the eighth hottest summer in the UK, with an average temperature of 15.35 degrees. In the last couple of decades, five of the top 10 warmest summers in the UK were recorded. New temperature records in 2022 In summer 2022, record-breaking temperatures of more than 40 degrees Celsius were recorded at several locations across the UK. Accordingly, 2022 was also the UK's warmest year on record, with the average annual temperature rising above 10 degrees Celsius for the first time. Since temperature recording began in 1884, the hottest years documented in the country have all occurred after 2003. England: the warmest country in the UK Amongst the countries that comprise the United Kingdom, England has generally seen the highest annual mean temperatures. In 2022, England’s average temperature also reached a new record high, at nearly 11 degrees Celsius. And while it’s not a typical sight in the United Kingdom, England also registered the most hours of sunshine on average, with Scotland being the gloomiest country out of the four.

Since 1990, the annual number of days with sub-zero temperatures within the United Kingdom (UK) has fluctuated greatly. The figure peaked in 2010, when the UK experienced a total of 93.4 days with air frost. In 2024, there were over 36 days with sub-zero temperatures recorded in the country.

There were 116 homicides recorded by the police in London in the 2023/24 reporting year, compared with 112 in 2022/23. During this provided time period, 2017/18 had the most homicides in London at 159, with the fewest occurring in 2016/17, when there were 107. Comparisons with the rest of the UK With a homicide rate of 13.1 per million people, London had the highest homicide rate among UK regions in 2023/24. On a more localized level, the Metropolitan Police of Greater London reported a lower homicide rate than other police force areas that cover major cities, such as the West Midlands Police Force, while the highest homicide rate among UK police forces was in Cleveland, in North East England. Across England and Wales as a whole, the number of homicides in 2023/24 was 583, compared with 581 in the previous year. Knives the most common weapon used In 2022/23 there were 244 homicides in England and Wales involving a knife or other sharp instrument. As a comparison, there were just 29 homicides caused by a firearm in the same reporting year. While guns are generally difficult to obtain in the United Kingdom, knives are far more prevalent and have become a major problem for the police, particularly in London. The number of knife crime offences in London rose from 9,752 in 2015/16 to over 15,928 by 2019/20, before falling back recently, to 12,786 in 2022/23. Although 2023/24 saw a return to near pre-pandemic levels, with 15,016 offences.

Warner Bros. Studios generated roughly ****** million British pounds in turnover from its studio tour "The Making of Harry Potter" in 2023. This marked an increase of around ** percent from the previous year, as well as an all-time high since it opened in 2012. In 2020 and 2021, revenue from studio tours had dropped dramatically as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Harry Potter – a blockbuster Harry Potter is a film series based on the novels of the same name written by J.K. Rowling. It is one of the highest-grossing film series in the world, with box office revenue from all eight films having totaled close to ** billion U.S. dollars. The films' studio tour attraction is based in Leavesden in the South East of England, and is a permanent exhibition, offering visitors a behind-the-scenes look at the Harry Potter film series. How popular is Harry Potter among international audiences? Upon the release of the series' first film, 'Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone', it became clear that the movie franchise had a global resonance, with global box office revenue reaching nearly *********** U.S. dollars. The Harry Potter series has found an especially committed fan base in the United States, where only ***** percent of adults said they were not a fan of the franchise in a 2023 poll.

With a crime rate of 132.4 per 1,000 people Cleveland, in North East England, had the highest crime rate of all the police force areas in England and Wales in 2023/24. High crime rates are evident in other areas of northern England, such as West Yorkshire and Greater Manchester at 121.7 and 117.7 respectively. In the English capital, London, the crime rate was 105.1 per 1,000 people. The lowest crime rate in England was in the relatively rural areas of Wiltshire in South West England, as well as North Yorkshire. Overall crime on the in England and Wales The number of crimes in England and Wales reached approximately 6.74 million in 2022/23, falling slightly to 6.66 million in 2023/24. Overall crime has been rising steadily across England and Wales for almost a decade, even when adjusted for population rises. In 2022/23, for example, the crime rate in England and Wales was 93.6, the highest since 2006/07. When compared with the rest of the United Kingdom, England and Wales is something of an outlier, as crime rates for Scotland and Northern Ireland have not followed the same trajectory of rising crime. Additionally, there has been a sharp increase in violent crimes and sexual offences since the mid-2010s in England and Wales. While theft offences have generally been falling, the number of shoplifting offences reached a peak of 440,000 in 2023/24. Troubled justice system under pressure Alongside rising crime figures, many indicators also signal that the justice system is getting pushed to breaking point. The percentage of crimes that are solved in England and Wales was just 5.7 percent in 2023, with sexual offences having a clearance rate of just 3.6 percent. Crimes are also taking far longer than usual to pass through the justice system. In 2023, it took an average of 676 days for a crown court case to reach a conclusion from the time of the offence. This is most likely related to the large backlog of cases in crown courts, which reached over 62,200 in 2023. Furthermore, prisons in England and Wales are dangerously overcrowded, with just 1,458 spare prison places available as of June 2024.