Crime Statistics in London, UK 2025 | Key Facts

Crime in London, United Kingdom 2025

London remains one of the world’s major metropolitan areas with a complex crime landscape that continues to evolve throughout 2025. The capital city, with its population of approximately 10 million residents, experiences various types of criminal activity that are closely monitored by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) and the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC). Recent data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and the MPS reveal significant trends in crime patterns across London’s 32 boroughs and the City of London, providing crucial insights into public safety and law enforcement effectiveness.

The crime statistics for London in 2025 demonstrate a nuanced picture of urban safety, with some categories showing remarkable reductions while others present ongoing challenges. Between January and September 2025, the Metropolitan Police recorded a total of 692,579 offences across the capital, representing a 1.1% decrease from the previous 12-month period. The overall crime rate in the Metropolitan Police Service’s force coverage area stands at 79 crimes per 1,000 people for the 12-month period ending August 2025, with the most commonly reported crimes being violence and sexual offences at approximately 23 reports per 1,000 daytime population. This comprehensive analysis examines verified data from UK government sources to present an accurate assessment of crime in London throughout 2025.

Interesting Facts About London Crime in the UK 2025

Data Sources: Office for National Statistics (ONS), Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC)

The crime statistics for London in 2025 reveal several encouraging trends alongside persistent challenges. The homicide rate has reached historic lows, with the first nine months of 2025 recording the fewest homicides since monthly records began in 2003. This represents a nearly 60% reduction compared to 2003 levels. The violence with injury rate in London stands at 26.40 offences per 1,000 population for the twelve months ending March 2025, which is notably below the England and Wales national average of 31.88 per 1,000 population. This data contradicts common perceptions and demonstrates that Londoners are statistically less likely to be victims of violent crime resulting in injury compared to residents in other parts of England and Wales.

However, certain crime categories present ongoing concerns. Sexual offences increased to 26,803 recorded incidents in 2024/25, representing a 10.1% rise from the previous year’s 24,334 offences. Drug offences experienced a substantial 41% increase, reaching 48,300 crimes between July 2024 and June 2025. The theft from person category remains particularly elevated in London, with a rate of 8.11 reports per 1,000 people—4.48 times higher than the national average. Meanwhile, robbery offences climbed by 8.7% to 54,064 crimes between September 2024 and 2025, though burglary showed improvement with a 6.3% decrease to 36,100 crimes. The knife crime reduction of 1,154 fewer offences (a 7% drop) demonstrates the effectiveness of targeted interventions, while teenage homicides falling by 50% from the previous year’s already historic low represents a significant achievement in youth violence prevention across London, United Kingdom in 2025.

Overall Crime Rate in London, UK 2025

Data Source: Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), Office for National Statistics (ONS)

The overall crime rate in London for 2025 presents a more favorable picture than many major international cities. With 79 crimes per 1,000 people recorded by the Metropolitan Police Service during the 12-month period ending August 2025, London demonstrates relatively controlled crime levels considering its status as a global metropolis. Between January and September 2025, officers recorded a total of 692,579 offences across the capital, which represents less than 7% of London’s approximate 10 million population. The annual crime rate in the London region stands at 30.5 crimes per 1,000 people, which equates to 86% of the national crime rate as of September 2025, positioning London as the region with the lowest crime rate among the 9 regions of England and Wales.

The breakdown reveals that violence and sexual offences constitute the most commonly reported crime category at approximately 23 reports per 1,000 daytime population. Importantly, London has experienced a 1.1% decrease in total offences during the first nine months of 2025 compared to the previous 12-month period, with September 2025 alone showing a 4.4% drop compared to August 2025. This downward trend suggests that policing strategies and crime prevention initiatives implemented by the Metropolitan Police Service and MOPAC are yielding measurable results. The crime risk score analysis indicates that areas within a typical five-minute walk in Metropolitan Police jurisdiction have an average crime risk score of 502, while ten-minute and fifteen-minute walk areas show scores of 618 and 673 respectively, providing residents and visitors with localized safety assessments across London’s diverse neighborhoods throughout 2025.

Homicide and Violent Crime Statistics in London, UK 2025

Data Source: Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC), Office for National Statistics (ONS), Metropolitan Police Service (MPS)

The homicide statistics for London in 2025 represent one of the most significant public safety achievements in recent decades. The number of homicides recorded in the first nine months of 2025 (January 1 to September 30) reached the lowest level since monthly homicide records began in 2003, representing an almost 60% decline compared to 2003 figures. The annual total for 2024/25 showed 104 homicides, down from 116 in 2023/24, continuing a multi-year downward trend. Particularly noteworthy is the 50% reduction in teenage homicides compared to the previous year’s already historic 22-year low, with 2025 recording the lowest number of teenage homicides since 2012. Under-25 homicides overall have reached their lowest point in more than two decades, demonstrating the effectiveness of youth violence intervention programs and the work of London’s Violence Reduction Unit.

Violence with injury offences have decreased across every single one of London’s 32 boroughs during the 12-month period ending August 2025, with 8,749 fewer offences recorded—representing a nearly 12% reduction. The rate of violence against the person in the Metropolitan Police area stands at 26.40 offences per 1,000 population for the twelve months ending March 2025, which is significantly below the national average for England and Wales of 31.88 per 1,000 population. This means that Londoners are statistically less likely to be victims of violent crime resulting in injury compared to residents elsewhere in the country. Havering recorded the largest reduction with 314 fewer offences, while Enfield saw 417 fewer offences compared to the previous 12 months. Firearm discharges in London fell by 43% in the year to June 2025, representing less than half the level recorded seven years ago, indicating effective firearms enforcement and gang intervention strategies across London, United Kingdom in 2025.

Knife Crime Statistics in London, UK 2025

Data Source: Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC), Office for National Statistics (ONS)

Knife crime in London during 2025 has shown encouraging reductions following years of intensive intervention efforts. The 12-month period ending August 2025 recorded 1,154 fewer knife crime offences compared to the previous year, representing a 7% decrease. The first quarter of the financial year 2025/26 showed a 19% reduction in knife crime with injury compared to the same period in 2024/25, though the Metropolitan Police Service notes that due to changes in recording practices at the MPS, statistics for knife crime with injury for victims under 25 in fiscal year 2024/2025 cannot be directly compared to previous periods. Hospital admissions for knife assault victims under 25 years old declined by 10% in the 12 months to June 2025, providing independent medical data that corroborates police statistics.

Knife-enabled crime levels through August 2025 were lower than those reported in 2024, with a consistent pattern of reductions observed across most of London, though the North East area experienced a small increase. In April 2025, the Metropolitan Police Service conducted a comprehensive review of their recording of offences where a knife or sharp instrument had been used from April 2024 onwards, discovering over-counting for some crime types and under-counting for others. These records have been corrected, resulting in a small overall increase in crimes enabled by knives or sharp instruments and a small reduction in offences resulting in injury. The corrected data shows more accurate figures but is not directly comparable with previous years’ data. Between 2016 and 2023, knife crime had risen 54% in London, from 9,086 incidents in the year ended March 31, 2016, to 14,000 in the year ended September 30, 2023, making the recent 7% reduction particularly significant as it represents a reversal of this multi-year trend across London, United Kingdom in 2025.

Robbery and Theft Statistics in London, UK 2025

Data Source: Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), Office for National Statistics (ONS)

Robbery statistics in London for 2025 present a mixed picture with divergent trends between different subcategories. Between September 2024 and 2025, there were 54,064 crimes of robbery, representing an 8.7% increase from the previous 12-month period. However, when examining specific types, personal robbery showed a 13% reduction in the first quarter of fiscal year 2025/26 (April-June 2025) compared to the same quarter in 2024/25, suggesting recent enforcement initiatives targeting street robbery are having an impact. The robbery rate stands at 2.82 reports per 1,000 people for the 12-month period ending August 2025, which is 2.64 times the national average, reflecting London’s status as a major urban center with high foot traffic and tourist areas.

Theft from person remains London’s most elevated crime category relative to national averages, with 93,011 crime reports logged during the 12-month period ending August 2025, resulting in a rate of 8.11 reports per 1,000 people—4.48 times the national average. The total number of theft from person crimes reached 96,700 cases between September 2024 and August 2025, showing a 3% increase year-over-year. Mobile phone theft, while not given its own category in police statistics, has been growing significantly, with 117,211 recorded thefts in 2024 compared to 91,481 in 2019. The demand for second-hand phones combined with the relative ease of reselling stolen devices through criminal networks are considered the main drivers. In contrast, bicycle theft showed improvement with 16,187 reported incidents in the 12 months ending September 2025, down 9.2% from the previous period, though actual numbers may be higher as only one in four victims report bicycle theft to police according to the British Crime Survey and Transport for London across London, UK in 2025.

Burglary Statistics in London, UK 2025

Data Source: Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC), Office for National Statistics (ONS)

Burglary statistics for London in 2025 demonstrate significant improvements in property crime prevention. Between September 2024 and 2025, there were 36,100 crimes of burglary recorded across the capital, representing a 6.3% decrease from the previous 12-month period. The first quarter of fiscal year 2025/26 (April-June 2025) showed an even more pronounced 10% reduction in residential burglary compared to the same quarter in 2024/25, indicating that recent initiatives to boost visible neighborhood policing are having their intended effect. The Mayor of London’s record investment includes a 50% increase in the number of police officers on the beat in the West End and an additional 90 police officers working in new or enhanced town center teams in hotspot areas.

In October 2025, the Metropolitan Police Service updated their crime classifications to align with Home Office classifications, which has impacted the crime groupings for burglary. Domestic burglary offences recorded since April 2023 are now categorized as either Residential or Non-Residential, providing more granular data for analysis and resource allocation. The Metropolitan Police report burglary statistics subdivided by residential and business categories, with subgroups for specific types such as burglary from unconnected buildings. Vehicle crime, while related to property crime, is tracked separately and showed 86,474 crime reports during the 12-month period ending August 2025, resulting in a rate of 7.58 reports per 1,000 people, which is 1.69 times the national average. This elevated rate reflects London’s high vehicle ownership and usage patterns, as well as the challenges of securing vehicles in dense urban environments across London, United Kingdom in 2025.

Sexual Offences Statistics in London, UK 2025

Data Source: Office for National Statistics (ONS), Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), Rape Crisis, The Survivors Trust

Sexual offences in London during 2025 remain at concerning elevated levels despite ongoing efforts to improve victim support and prosecution rates. The 2024/25 reporting year recorded 26,803 sexual offences, representing a 10.1% increase from the 24,334 offences reported in 2023/24. The numbers have hovered around 25,000 annually for three consecutive years, representing a significant rise since the Covid-19 pandemic. More than 8,800 rape incidents were reported to the Metropolitan Police in 2023—an average of 24 rapes per day across London. However, the charity Rape Crisis warns that these figures likely represent only a fraction of actual incidents, as one in four women and one in 18 men have been raped or sexually assaulted since age 16, but most survivors don’t report it to police.

The reporting rate remains critically low, with only one in six women who are raped reporting it to police, and only one in five men. This substantial under-reporting means the true scale of sexual violence in London is considerably higher than official statistics indicate. Sexual violence charity The Survivors Trust emphasizes that “the key to reducing the number of sexual assaults lies with the perpetrators. They need to change their behaviours.” UN research released in 2021 showed that more than 70% of women have experienced sexual harassment in public spaces, rising to 86% among those aged 18-24 years old. On a positive note, charge and summons outcomes for rape offences have shown improvement—the number of rape offences recorded in 2020/21 that received a charge/summons outcome was 841, which has more than trebled to 3,030 by the year ending March 2025, suggesting the criminal justice system’s response is strengthening. The Protection from Sex-Based Harassment in Public Act 2023 has created new offences with more robust penalties for behaviors including persistent staring, unwarranted following, sexual comments, and non-consensual touching across London, UK in 2025.

Drug Crime Statistics in London, UK 2025

Data Source: Office for National Statistics (ONS), Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), Home Office, Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC)

Drug crime statistics in London for 2025 reveal the fastest growing crime category in the capital. The total number of drug offences reached 48,300 crimes between July 2024 and June 2025, representing a substantial 41% increase when compared year-over-year. The drug crime rate stands at 5.6 crimes per 1,000 people, which represents 167% of the national crime rate as of July 2025, giving London the highest drug crime rate among the 9 regions of England and Wales. Drug offences make up 4.2% of all crimes committed in the London region, and this proportion has been growing steadily.

The increase in drug offences in London is partly driven by enhanced police activity and targeted operations against drug supply networks. Around 54% of drug offences received a formal or informal criminal justice sanction in the year ending March 2025, with approximately one in five (18.6%) receiving a charge/summons outcome and around twice as many (35%) receiving an out-of-court disposal. There is a significant difference in how possession of cannabis versus possession of other drugs are resolved—cannabis possession has a much lower charge/summons rate (16.7%) than possession of other drugs (29.7%), with 51.1% of all cannabis offences resolved with Community Resolutions compared to 28.6% for other drugs. London had the highest drug seizure rate in England and Wales in 2022/23 at 3,920 seizures per million people. According to a 2024 MOPAC Problem Profile, Albanian organized crime groups now largely control the cocaine market in London, with the city serving as the primary hub for Albanian organized crime in the UK. The police response focuses heavily on possession offences and stop and search, with 5% of total MPS offences being drug-related, though experts note significant data gaps exist regarding the overlap between drug offending and drug use across London, United Kingdom in 2025.

Borough-Specific Crime Statistics in London, UK 2025

Data Source: Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC)

Borough-specific crime statistics for London in 2025 reveal significant geographic variation in crime patterns across the capital’s 32 boroughs. Westminster recorded the highest levels of offences with 61,734 incidents between January and September 2025, though this is largely attributable to its status as a major tourist hotspot housing the Houses of Parliament, Trafalgar Square, and numerous popular shops and retailers where tens of thousands of people pass through daily. The most common crime in Westminster was theft with 37,504 incidents, followed by violence with 8,353 cases, drug offences at 1,954, and robbery at 2,546 cases. The high crime numbers must be contextualized against Westminster’s extraordinarily high daytime population due to tourism and commuting.

Camden ranked second with 30,845 incidents, another area frequently visited by tourists. The most commonly reported offence was theft with 15,252 reports, alongside 5,415 incidents of violence and 746 reports of sexual offences. Newham placed third with 29,995 reported incidents, located near Canary Wharf in East London, with the most common crimes including theft, violence, and drug offences. Southwark recorded 29,832 reports since January 2025, with theft being most common at 11,862 reports, along with 6,744 reports of violence against a person, 1,552 drug offences, 1,546 public order offences, and 1,455 reports of arson and criminal damage. Lambeth completed the top five with 28,561 crime incidents.

Notably, while these boroughs recorded the highest absolute numbers, every single one of London’s 32 boroughs showed reductions in violence with injury during the 12-month period ending August 2025. Havering recorded the largest reduction with 314 fewer offences, while Enfield saw 417 fewer offences compared to the previous 12 months. This universal improvement across all boroughs represents a significant achievement in crime reduction efforts across London, United Kingdom in 2025.

Crime Comparison: London vs England & Wales in 2025

Data Source: Office for National Statistics (ONS), Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC)

Comparing London’s crime statistics to national averages in 2025 reveals a nuanced picture that challenges common perceptions about safety in the capital. Londoners are demonstrably safer from violent crime than residents in other parts of England and Wales. The violence with injury rate in London stands at 26.40 offences per 1,000 population for the twelve months ending March 2025, which is significantly below the national average of 31.88 per 1,000 population—making London 17% safer in this critical category. Similarly, the broader violence against the person category shows London at 7.3 offences per 1,000 people compared to the national rate of 8.5 offences per 1,000, representing a 14% lower risk for Londoners.

The overall crime rate in London of 79 crimes per 1,000 people represents 86% of the national crime rate, positioning the capital as the safest region among the nine regions of England and Wales as of September 2025. This is a remarkable achievement for a city of London’s size and international prominence. However, certain crime categories remain elevated compared to national levels. Theft from person is 4.48 times higher than the national average at 8.11 per 1,000 people, largely due to London’s dense crowds, tourist attractions, and public transportation networks. Robbery is 2.64 times the national average at 2.82 per 1,000 people, and drug crime stands at 167% of the national rate at 5.6 per 1,000 people. The homicide rate of 13.1 per million in 2023/24 was the highest among UK regions, though the dramatic reductions in 2025 suggest this ranking will improve in future reporting periods across London, United Kingdom.

Public Safety Initiatives and Policing Strategies in London 2025

Data Source: Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC)

Public safety initiatives in London throughout 2025 reflect a comprehensive, data-driven approach to crime reduction across multiple fronts. The Mayor of London’s record investment in policing has delivered tangible results, particularly in the areas showing the most significant improvements. The 50% increase in police officers on the beat in the West End addresses both resident and tourist safety concerns in one of the world’s most visited urban areas. An additional 90 police officers have been deployed to new or enhanced town center teams in crime hotspot areas, providing visible deterrence and rapid response capabilities in locations identified through crime mapping and analysis.

London’s Violence Reduction Unit has been instrumental in achieving the historic reductions in youth violence, employing a public health approach that addresses the root causes of violence rather than relying solely on enforcement. This includes early intervention programs in schools, mentoring schemes for at-risk youth, and community-based support services. The knife crime operations combine proactive stop-and-search in high-risk areas with education campaigns warning young people about the dangers and legal consequences of carrying knives. Gang intervention strategies have successfully disrupted criminal networks responsible for serious violence, contributing to the 43% reduction in firearm discharges.

The sexual offences response has been strengthened through improved victim support services, specialized training for officers handling such cases, and closer collaboration with the Crown Prosecution Service to build stronger cases. These efforts have contributed to charge rates trebling since 2020/21, though significant work remains to address the low reporting rates. Drug supply enforcement has intensified focus on organized crime groups, particularly Albanian networks identified as controlling much of London’s cocaine market. The Metropolitan Police Service has also invested heavily in technology integration, including enhanced CCTV networks, predictive analytics for crime hotspots, and improved data sharing systems that enable evidence-based policing strategies across London, United Kingdom in 2025.

Crime Trends and Future Outlook for London 2025-2026

Data Source: Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC), Office for National Statistics (ONS)

Crime trends in London as 2025 progresses suggest a capital city at an important inflection point in public safety. The dramatic reductions in homicide and serious violence, particularly among young people, represent the culmination of years of sustained intervention efforts and provide a foundation for optimism. If current trends continue, London could achieve its lowest annual homicide total in the modern era by the end of 2025 or early 2026. The knife crime reductions are similarly encouraging, though maintaining these gains will require continued investment in the programs and policing strategies that produced them, including youth services, educational outreach, and targeted enforcement in high-risk areas.

However, sexual offences remain a significant concern with the 10.1% increase in recorded incidents. While improved reporting rates may account for some of this rise, the elevated levels demand continued priority attention. Future efforts must focus on cultural change, perpetrator accountability, enhanced victim support, and sustained improvements in prosecution rates. The 41% surge in drug offences reflects both increased police activity and the persistent challenge of organized drug supply networks in a major international city. Future strategies will need to balance enforcement against supply networks with public health approaches to drug use and addiction treatment.

Theft from person and mobile phone theft are expected to remain elevated given London’s status as a global tourist destination and financial center. Future initiatives may include enhanced technology solutions such as remote phone disabling, improved CCTV coverage in hotspot areas, and public awareness campaigns for visitors and residents. The mixed signals on robbery—with personal robbery declining but overall robbery increasing—suggest that targeted interventions are working for street-level crime but business-focused robbery requires additional attention. The 6.3% decrease in burglary positions this category for potential further reductions as neighborhood policing teams expand their presence.

Overall, the 1.1% decrease in total offences during the first nine months of 2025, combined with London’s position as the safest region in England and Wales, provides grounds for cautious optimism. The Metropolitan Police Service and MOPAC have demonstrated that evidence-based policing, targeted interventions, and sustained investment can produce measurable improvements in public safety. The challenge for 2026 and beyond will be sustaining these gains while addressing the persistent challenges in sexual offences, drug crime, and theft-related offenses across London, United Kingdom.

Disclaimer: This research report is compiled from publicly available sources. While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, no representation or warranty, express or implied, is given as to the completeness or reliability of the information. We accept no liability for any errors, omissions, losses, or damages of any kind arising from the use of this report.

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