UK Crime Polling 2026: Reform UK Leads by +14pts, Police Trust at 34%
58% say crime has got worse since 2019. Knife crime: 72% want tougher sentences. Police trust has fallen to 34%, down from 46% in 2019. Reform UK leads on crime trust by +14 points over Labour. Stop and search: 44% support more use, 32% oppose.
Which Party Do Voters Trust on Crime & Policing?
Reform UK leads by +14ptsPolling question: “Which party do you trust most to handle crime and policing?” Source: composite of YouGov, Ipsos, Survation, May 2026.
Reform UK leads on crime trust by +14 percentage points over Labour — a remarkable position for a party that did not exist in 2019. The 31% “none/don’t know” response is the highest of any major policy area, reflecting deep public belief that all parties have failed on crime and policing.
Police Trust: Trend 2019–2026
From 46% to 34% in 7 yearsSource: Ipsos/MORI policing trust tracker. The 12-point decline from 46% (2019) to 34% (2026) is driven by high-profile misconduct cases, the Baroness Casey Review findings and continued concerns about response times and case closures without charge.
Key Crime Polling Numbers
Stop and Search: Divided Public Opinion
The Stop and Search Debate
Especially among voters over 55 and in areas with high knife crime. Reform UK and Conservatives are strongest advocates for expanded use as a deterrent tool.
Concentrated among younger voters and ethnic minority communities who cite disproportionate targeting. Black and minority voters oppose expanded use by 54% vs 29% support.
Crime Concerns by Type (% naming as top concern)
Source: YouGov, April 2026. Knife crime named as top concern by 49% of voters, highest in London at 67% and other major cities. Online fraud is rising rapidly as a concern.
Polling Data Table
| Issue | Finding | Date | Pollster | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crime worse since 2019 | 58% agree | Apr 2026 | YouGov | 2,104 |
| Knife crime: want tougher sentences | 72% | Apr 2026 | YouGov | 2,104 |
| Trust the police | 34% trust | Mar 2026 | Ipsos | 1,836 |
| Police trust in 2019 (baseline) | 46% trusted | 2019 | Ipsos | 1,800 |
| Reform UK crime trust lead over Labour | +14pts (31% vs 17%) | May 2026 | Composite | 3,200+ |
| Stop and search: support more use | 44% support | Mar 2026 | Survation | 1,521 |
| Stop and search: oppose more use | 32% oppose | Mar 2026 | Survation | 1,521 |
| More police officers needed | 72% agree | Feb 2026 | YouGov | 1,980 |
| Tougher sentencing needed generally | 61% agree | Jan 2026 | Ipsos | 1,640 |
Analysis: Reform UK’s Crime Trust Surge
How Reform UK Built a +14pt Crime Lead
Reform UK’s 31% on crime trust — 14 points ahead of Labour — is one of the most striking developments in British polling. The party did not exist at the 2019 general election, yet it now leads on an issue the Conservatives held for decades. Their platform of more police, longer sentences, expanded stop and search and a zero-tolerance stance on knife crime resonates among voters who feel both main parties have been soft on public order. The 31% “none/don’t know” response shows how much space remains for a clear crime message.
Labour’s Law and Order Problem
Labour won power in 2024 partly on a neighbourhood policing platform and anti-ASB pledges. But with police trust at 34% — down 12 points from 2019 — and 58% saying crime is worse, the message has not landed. The Baroness Casey Review’s exposure of Metropolitan Police culture created a context where “reform the police” competes with “more police” and “harder policing” as the dominant voter ask. Labour’s positioning between police reform advocates and law-and-order hardliners leaves them owning neither lane decisively.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do UK voters think about crime levels?
58% of UK voters say crime has got worse since 2019, with only 12% saying it has improved. Public perception of rising crime is consistent across demographics but is strongest in urban areas where knife crime is most visible. The gap between public perception and official crime statistics (which show more nuanced trends) is a well-documented feature of British public opinion on policing.
What do polls say about knife crime sentences?
72% of UK voters want tougher sentences for knife crime offences — the strongest public support for any punitive criminal justice measure in 2026 polling. Cross-party parliamentary consensus broadly reflects this pressure. Labour has introduced longer minimum sentences for repeat knife carriers, though campaigners argue enforcement gaps undermine the deterrent effect.
How has trust in the police changed?
Police trust has fallen from 46% in 2019 to 34% in 2026 — a 12-point decline. The sharpest drop came between 2022 and 2023, driven by the Metropolitan Police’s handling of the Sarah Everard murder by a serving officer, the Clapham Spa incident and the damning Baroness Casey Review, which documented systemic issues of misogyny, racism and corruption in the Met.
Which party leads on crime trust in UK polls?
Reform UK leads on crime trust by +14 percentage points, polling at 31% versus Labour’s 17% in May 2026 composite polling. The Conservatives trail at 15%. A striking 31% of voters say they trust no party on crime — the highest none/don’t know figure on any major policy area.
What do UK voters think about stop and search?
44% of UK voters support more use of stop and search powers and 32% oppose. Support is highest among older voters and in high-crime areas. Opposition is concentrated among younger voters and ethnic minority communities who cite evidence of disproportionate targeting. Black and minority ethnic voters oppose expanded stop and search by 54% to 29%.