Deepfake crimes

Freedom of Information (FOI) Act request ref: 01/FOI/26/010456/V

Version Date: 24/09/2026

The Performance & Analysis Department has provided the following information:

Data Source:

Crime information system – Niche

Data Processing:

Searched for keywords listed below within the Summary/MO

Data Limitations/Caveats:

Data is reliant on correct and accurate data recording.                                         

Data is based on the presence of the keyword, but may not be limited to the word itself.                                  

If multiple keywords/phrases have been found in one record, they will be counted in every instance.                                  

The results indicate how many times the keyword/phrases appeared in the Summary/MO and not the total number of crimes.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

Please detail the number of reported crimes involving deepfakes, synthetic media and face swap each year for the past three years (from September to August), by searching a free-text keyword filter on the Modus Operandi text, crime summary fields or incident logs.

To keep under the statutory cost limit, please restrict this keyword search to offences recorded under Fraud, Blackmail, Sexual Offences (specifically intimate image abuse, if possible) and Harassment/Stalking.

Please search these words:
*           "Deepfake"
*           "Deep fake"
*           "Synthetic media"

E.g. September 2025 to August 2026
*           Deepfake - 100 crimes
*           Deep Fake - 10 crimes
*           Synthetic Media - 30 crimes