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Study Finds Public Overestimates Ethnic Minority Crime Shares

8/17/2026

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Summary

Story summary

King’s College London researchers found public overestimates crime shares of ethnic minorities and foreign nationals.
A YouGov poll of 1,800 adults showed 55% think 55% of killers are ethnic minorities, though real share is 35%.
Respondents said foreign nationals account for 25% of prisoners (actual 12%) and 30% of sexual offences (actual 15%), while the median public guess of personal victimisation is 27% versus the actual 9.7% for 2024-2025.

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Story summary

King’s College London researchers found public overestimates crime shares of ethnic minorities and foreign nationals.
A YouGov poll of 1,800 adults showed 55% think 55% of killers are ethnic minorities, though real share is 35%.
Respondents said foreign nationals account for 25% of prisoners (actual 12%) and 30% of sexual offences (actual 15%), while the median public guess of personal victimisation is 27% versus the actual 9.7% for 2024-2025.