Ad hoc report: Public awareness of money laundering in the UK
Published 15 September 2026
© Crown copyright 2026
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Authors
Martin Robinson, Samantha Dowling, Jessica Kelly, Home Office.
Acknowledgements
The research team would like to thank Anita Jeffreson, Maddy Pickles, Dorothee Stellmacher and Hannah Shrimpton at Ipsos UK. The research team would also like to thank Marilyn Hall, Rory Mckenna, Ellen Thompson, Iona Woodbridge at the Home Office.
1. Introduction and methodology
The Home Office commissioned Ipsos UK to conduct a survey using the i:omnibus Online panel in March 2026. This survey assessed public perceptions on a number of topics, and specifically surrounding money laundering: focusing on awareness, concern, and views on negative impacts of money laundering. Data tables to accompany the findings in this report can be found in Annex A.
The survey included 2,246 adults aged 16 to 75 from across the UK, specifically England (84%), Scotland (8%), Wales (5%), and Northern Ireland (3%). Fieldwork took place 27 to 30 March 2026.
Ipsos UK i:omnibus panel members opt-in to participation in the panel. Designed to produce a nationally representative sample, quotas were applied for age, gender, working status, and standard geographical regions. Data was post-weighted to reflect the UK population aged 16 to 75.
As the survey used non-probability sampling, it may be subject to different forms of bias that can limit generalisation to the wider population. As an online survey, it may underrepresent digitally excluded demographics.
While the data provides insight into public perceptions, it does not capture the underlying reasons behind these views. Further qualitative or exploratory research would be required to explore these.
2. Key findings
2.1 Awareness and concerns about money laundering
A large majority of respondents (73%) reported knowing little or nothing about money laundering in the UK (see figure 1 below).
Figure 1: How much, if anything, do you know about money laundering in the UK?
Base: All UK adults aged 16 to 75 (n = 2,246).
Approximately one-third of respondents reported feeling concerned about money laundering in the UK (32%), with a comparable 31% feeling not at all or not very concerned about money laundering in the UK (see figure 2 below). However, another one-third of respondents (33%) reported feeling neither concerned or unconcerned about money laundering in the UK.
Figure 2: How concerned, if at all, are you currently feeling about money laundering in the UK?
Base: All UK adults aged 16 to 75 (n = 2,246).
2.2 Views on how money laundering negatively affects the UK:
While 62% felt little or no personal impact, approximately one in 4 respondents (24%) felt that money laundering negatively affected them personally (see figure 3 below).
Over half of respondents recognised the negative impact of money laundering on the UK’s financial systems (67%), prosperity and economic growth (64%), national security (60%), and the UK’s international reputation (57%) (see figure 3 below).
Figure 3: To what extent, if at all, do you think money laundering in the UK negatively affects each of the following?
Base: All UK adults aged 16 to 75 (n = 2,246). Percentages may not sum to 100% due to rounding.