Robbery law in England and Wales: Theft, force and sentencing

Robbery combines theft with force or the threat of force used immediately before or at the time of stealing. It carries a maximum of life imprisonment.

Nearest published map category Robbery

Context only - Not a count of this specific offence.

Maximum sentence: Life imprisonment
Guideline context: For dwelling robbery, 1 to 16 years’ custody under the current adult guideline; other robbery types have their own ranges.
Source checked: 2026-10-16

What this offence means

Legal definition

A theft is required, together with force or putting a person in fear of immediate force for the purpose of stealing. Different guidelines cover street, commercial and dwelling robbery.

What this page cannot decide

It cannot decide whether an offence occurred, whether a person is guilty or what sentence a court will impose. Those questions depend on admissible evidence, the exact charge and the law in force at the relevant time.

What prosecutors must establish

The elements below explain the principal parts of this offence. The official provision and current case law determine the precise legal test.

A theft

Robbery depends on a theft, so the prosecution must establish the ingredients of theft.

Force or fear of immediate force

Force must be used, or a person put or sought to be put in fear of immediate force, immediately before or at the time of stealing.

For the purpose of stealing

The force or threat must be used in order to steal, linking it to the theft.

Published robbery records

CrimeRate calculates this chart from official street-level crime records. It shows the nearest broad reporting category - Not the number of charges, defendants or convictions for robbery.

March 2024

Latest published month6,286Robbery records in March 2024

Share of that month’s archive1.3%A share of all published street-level records, not an offending rate

Total across the chart6,2861 published month represented

Change from prior monthNot availableA comparable prior month is unavailable

Do not turn this chart into a count of robbery. The source has a robbery category, but it is still a recorded-crime grouping. A point does not establish guilt, show the evidence or identify which robbery guideline would apply.

Explore this category on the map →

Sentence and court context

Two different reference points frame sentencing. Neither predicts the result in an individual case.

Statutory maximum Life imprisonment

The legal ceiling available for this offence - Not the usual sentence.

Reviewed adult guideline For dwelling robbery, 1 to 16 years’ custody under the current adult guideline; other robbery types have their own ranges.

The applicable category and starting point depend on the facts proved.

What the court then considers

Offence provedThe admitted or proved facts set the starting point.

Harm and culpabilityThe guideline category is identified from both.

Case factorsAggravating and mitigating circumstances alter the assessment.

AdjustmentsPrevious convictions, assistance and any guilty plea are considered.

Final legal checksMinimum terms, dangerousness and ancillary orders may apply.

Distinctions that change the answer

Robbery and theft

Theft without the required force or threat is not robbery, even where the loss to the victim is substantial.

Robbery and burglary

Burglary concerns unlawful entry or presence with specified intent or offending inside; robbery centres on stealing with force or an immediate threat.

Important sentencing and reporting notes

The applicable guideline depends on the kind of robbery.
Weapon use, injury, planning, group activity and victim vulnerability can materially affect sentence.

What the map can and cannot show

The map provides geographic context for the nearest broad reporting category. It does not reproduce a case file or court record.

Closest map groupingRobbery

What it can showAn anonymised recorded-crime point, date and broad category

What it cannot showThe charge, evidence, parties, exact address or guilt

Questions people commonly ask

Is every theft from a person robbery?

No. Robbery requires the statutory force or immediate-threat element used for the purpose of stealing.

Why do different robbery ranges appear?

The Sentencing Council publishes different guidance for street, commercial and dwelling robbery.

Primary and sentencing sources

Use the official text to confirm the provision, territorial extent, amendments and commencement for the date in question.

Theft Act 1968Section 8 Sentencing Council guidelineCurrent official sentencing guidance Open the complete Theft Act 1968Official text on legislation.gov.uk