Cocaine-linked crimes on the rise in Britain as consumption surges

Why This Matters

Key context: <p>Exclusive: Wastewater analysis in England suggests people took roughly 2.5bn lines of drug in one year</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/oct/23/deaths-cocaine-crime-survey-england-wales">Ageing users and record deaths – the data behind Britain’s £9.8bn-a-year cocaine habit</a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/ng-interactive/2026/oct/23/how-cocaine-conquered-the-uk-inside-britains-pubs-festivals-and-workplaces-the-drug-has-become-an-everyday-habit">Pubs, festivals and workplaces: how cocaine has become an everyday habit</a></p></li></ul><p>British police are recording a growing number of crimes linked to cocaine, including assaults, domestic abuse and dangerous driving, as figures show consumption has surged across England.</p><p>A Guardian investigation has found police forces across Britain recorded a 10% rise in crime rates associated with the class A drug since 2019, while the Home Office estimates cocaine usage at sites across England has risen by 26% since 2021.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/oct/25/cocaine-linked-crimes-on-the-rise-in-britain-as-consumption-surges">Continue reading...</a> This development from The Guardian highlights ongoing changes in the sector.