London has achieved its lowest homicide figures in over a decade, with official police data revealing 97 recorded cases in 2025—the smallest annual total since 2014. The Metropolitan Police confirmed that both absolute numbers and per capita rates have reached historic lows, with the latter representing the most favorable statistics since systematic tracking began in 1997.
Mayor Sadiq Khan welcomed these findings as validation of his administration’s dual-focused strategy addressing both criminal enforcement and underlying social factors. “Despite persistent efforts to undermine London’s reputation, empirical evidence presents a decidedly different narrative,” Khan stated, emphasizing his commitment to evidence-based policymaking.
This positive development emerges against a backdrop of intense political criticism directed at the mayor. Conservative voices, far-right commentators, and international figures including Elon Musk have repeatedly accused Khan of fostering increased criminality through progressive immigration policies. The mayor has simultaneously faced escalating Islamophobic attacks on social media platforms.
Beyond homicide statistics, the report documented significant improvements in other violence indicators: injury-producing violent incidents decreased by 20% since 2014, while NHS data showed a nearly 30% reduction in stabbing-related hospitalizations over the past five years. Comparative analysis revealed London’s per capita homicide rate now trails behind other global metropolises including New York, Paris, Los Angeles, and Berlin.
However, the report notably excluded data on property crimes and sexual offenses, areas where critics maintain concerns. Reform UK’s mayoral candidate Laila Cunningham recently asserted that London “is no longer safe,” particularly for women, highlighting phone thefts as a growing problem—with recorded cases surging 25% from 91,481 in 2019 to 117,211 in 2024.
The Metropolitan Police affirmed that “London remains a secure environment for residents, workers, and visitors,” attributing improvements to strategic enforcement and preventive measures. As local elections approach, crime prevention continues to dominate political discourse, with opposition parties vowing to prioritize law enforcement in their campaigns.