Indian nationals in the UK recorded the highest increase in sex offence convictions among all foreign nationals between 2021 and 2024, according to new government data.
Figures from the Ministry of Justice show a 257 percent jump in convictions between 2021 and 2024. In 2021, Indian nationals were convicted of 28 sexual offences but by 2024, that number had reached 100.
Nigerian nationals followed with a 166 percent increase, while Iraqis recorded a 160 percent rise. Officials explained the figures reflect sentencing occasions, so repeat offenders may appear more than once.
The information, compiled from the Police National Computer, was obtained by the Centre for Migration Control through a freedom of information request.
It is not only sexual offences where Indian nationals have stood out. Serious offences overall also climbed sharply. Convictions rose by 115 percent between 2021 and 2024 – the third-highest increase among foreign nationals. Egyptians saw the largest rise, followed by Algerians. For Indians, convictions for serious crimes rose from 273 in 2021 to 588 in 2024.
These revelations come at a time of growing concern about illegal mass migration.
Home Office data shows that 293 Indian nationals entered the UK illegally in 2024, many by small boat. A further 206 arrived in the first half of this year. Although Indians are still a smaller group compared to Afghans, Iranians, and Syrians, they made up 15 percent of all illegal arrivals in the year ending June 2025.
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Indian migrants in Britain
During that same year, 5,474 Indians applied for asylum in the UK. Around 4,000 of these were from people who had first come legally, often on student visas. Another 400 were made by those who entered by small boats while the rest used other irregular routes.
The outcomes for these asylum seekers were mixed. In the year ending June 2025, 2,691 applications were refused and only 20 were granted, and the remainder are still awaiting decisions.
Despite these statistics, Indian nationals remain one of the most prominent migrant groups in Britain in positive terms. They were the single largest nationality to gain UK citizenship in the year ending June 2025. They also topped the charts for work visas and tourist visas, and they were the second-largest group to receive student visas, with 98,014 issued to main applicants.
The figures underline the complex picture of Indian migration to the UK. On one hand, the community continues to contribute significantly to the workforce, universities, and wider society. On the other, the sharp rise in convictions for sexual and serious offences, combined with a steady flow of illegal entries, raises fresh questions about immigration and assimilation.
With Britain already locked in heated debates over border control, small boat crossings and policing, these findings are certain to sharpen the conversation further.
As the government considers next steps on migration and security, the challenge will be balancing Britain’s heavy reliance on migrant workers with nationwide concerns about migrant crimes.
