According to newly released statistics from the Metropolitan Police, the homicide rate in London has decreased to its most minimal level in over a decade.

The police department reported 97 homicide cases in 2025, marking the lowest count since 2014, with a rate of just 1.1 per 100,000 residents. This is significantly lower than the homicide rates in New York (2.8), Berlin (3.2), and Milan (1.6).

When factoring in population size, this represents the lowest homicide total on record for London, the Met noted.

Additionally, the number of homicides among teenagers has also seen a significant decline. After reaching an alarming peak in 2021 with 30 young lives lost, the toll fell to eight in the previous year, the lowest since 2012.

These figures coincide with a broader trend, as the latest crime statistics for England and Wales also indicate a reduction in homicides, now at their lowest since the introduction of current reporting practices in 2003.

From June 2024 to June 2025, police documented 518 homicide cases, reflecting a 6% decrease from 552 the previous year and 27% lower than the figure of 710 recorded during the pre-pandemic period of 2019-20.

Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley expressed that while each homicide is a tragic loss, fewer families are experiencing the grief of violent crime.

Susan Hall, leader of the London Conservatives, commended the police’s efforts, but emphasized the necessity of addressing other issues like violence against women and girls.

Sir Mark attributed the reduction in homicides to focused police operations against organized crime networks and enhanced technology utilization, such as live facial recognition systems.

“This success stems from outstanding police work targeting the most dangerous individuals—those who carry weapons, recruit young people into gangs, and exploit women,” he stated.

The Commissioner also lauded preventive initiatives, particularly the work of London’s Violence Reduction Unit (VRU), established by Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan in 2019. He noted that the unit has significantly influenced the lives of teenagers who have fallen victim to drug dealers.

The VRU implements tailored interventions to keep youth away from gangs and violence, such as deploying youth workers in police stations and hospitals, and addressing school exclusions.

Of the eight teenagers who lost their lives to violence last year, the youngest was 14-year-old Kelyan Bokassa, who was tragically stabbed multiple times while on a bus in Woolwich.

VRU Director Lib Peck acknowledged that while there is still much work to be done, the progress indicators show consistent advancements. “When we were established over six years ago, London’s youth homicide rate was three times what it is now,” she stated.

Sir Mark recognized that some residents may still perceive London as unsafe, suggesting that social media, particularly in “increasingly volatile and polarized times,” contributes to this sentiment.

“The reality seems less clear, often overshadowed by opinion and sensationalism. Using objective data is one way to convey, ‘Yes, London is relatively safe,'” he remarked.

Mayor Khan noted that various individuals have been attempting to undermine London’s reputation. “Whether it’s President Donald Trump or other politicians from Europe and beyond, I get the animosity towards London. Our city is diverse, progressive, liberal, and successful, and even the most severe critics must acknowledge these impressive statistics,” he asserted.

This comes amid an ongoing feud between Sir Sadiq and President Trump, who previously criticized Khan’s leadership, claiming that crime levels in London are soaring.

During a recent interview on Radio 4’s Today program, Sir Sadiq referred to London as “the greatest city in the world” and suggested that Trump might be experiencing some envy.

He admitted that some Londoners perceive the city as “lawless,” citing issues like phone thefts and shoplifting, and attributed the problem to years of government funding cuts that have strained police resources.

“I fully recognize the perception of crime,” he commented. “We are committed to addressing it.”

Historically, the Metropolitan Police had not adequately prioritized high-volume crimes or violence against women and girls, but efforts have been made to rectify this.

Shoplifting has surged by 54% since 2023; however, the Met failed to respond to more than half of the incidents requiring police attention.

Phone theft, too, has increased by 25% over the past five years, resulting in London being labeled “the phone theft capital of Western Europe.” A mere 1% of these cases end in charges or convictions, leaving many victims feeling that justice is elusive.

Khan has called on phone manufacturers to implement “kill switches” to render stolen devices worthless, as they often find their way into the hands of international crime syndicates.

He mentioned reforms, such as doubling the police presence in the West End, which have led to a decrease in robbery and theft rates.

When asked if shop workers outside the West End can expect officer response during incidents, Khan stated, “At this moment, they will respond and take action. Not only will police arrive, but they are utilizing facial recognition technology.”

“We maintain a database of known shoplifters and thieves, collaborating with retailers to match CCTV footage against our records, leading to the arrest of numerous prolific shoplifters across London.”

Both the Commissioner and the Mayor are under pressure to restore public trust in policing following a string of scandals.

Last week, an internal Metropolitan Police review covering a decade up to March 2023 revealed 131 officers and staff had committed criminal acts or misconduct due to inadequate vetting procedures.

One officer, Cliff Mitchell, was allowed to join the force in 2020 after a diversity-focused vetting panel overturned a decision to reject him, despite prior allegations of child rape.

Hall criticized Khan for allegedly “cherry-picking statistics,” expressing concern over rising violence against women and girls and grooming gangs purportedly operating in London.

“What we analyze must encompass the full context. While I commend the Met for improvements, it’s essential not to focus solely on selective statistics, as the mayor tends to do,” she cautioned.

Women currently feel increasingly unsafe, and some statistics suggest this insecurity is rising.

“There’s a phone theft every six minutes, which should serve as a warning to the public.”

Hall remarked on social media videos warning people to be cautious about displaying expensive items, acknowledging that this might enhance public vigilance, but could also evoke fear.

The Mayor affirmed that the Met is zeroing in on the most dangerous sexual offenders identified through the V100 initiative and is taking measures against gangs involved in phone thefts.

Although the ONS indicates a decline in both homicide and knife crimes across England and Wales, knife-enabled offenses have continued to rise in London since the pandemic, though there was a slight year-on-year decrease recorded recently. During the year up to June 2025, the Met recorded 15,639 such offenses, slightly lower than the 15,644 recorded in the preceding year.

ONS data also reflected a 14% decrease in violent injuries, while sexual offenses increased by 11%. Shoplifting and phone theft have continued to escalate in recent years.

However, the VRU noted a 43% decline in hospital admissions for under-25s injured by knives since 2019.

Roisin Kelville, operations manager for St Giles, a charity with youth workers stationed in four London hospitals, observed a “clear indicator” that their efforts are making a difference.

The team provides support to young people admitted after experiencing stabbings or gunshot wounds, striving to redirect them away from cycles of violence.

Kelville explained, “For young individuals bearing generational trauma and life’s hardships, a single misstep can lead to an explosion of emotions.”

Last year, 229 young people were referred to their services, a decrease to 150 this year. Historically, violence peaks during the summer holidays, but numbers have dropped in the past two years.

“The VRU has nurtured a ’21st Century village’ mentality,” she stated. “They say, ‘it takes a village to raise a child,’ and for various reasons, that village has diminished. However, there is now a significant collective effort.”

Kelville expressed concerns about the need for ongoing long-term funding. “We have a functioning model; we cannot stop now just because we’ve noticed a reduction in referrals. We must maintain this momentum.”

Oliur Rahman, co-CEO of Active Communities Network, also advocated for sustainable, long-term funding directed towards grassroots community organizations. His group manages teams in Southwark, known as MyEnds, and he described them as “unsung heroes” who build trust among Londoners, particularly those from diverse or disadvantaged backgrounds who have lost faith in authorities.

Rahman emphasized that young people now have greater support following years of cuts to policing and youth programs. “There was a lack of resources preventing diversion from street life. Parents had no one to guide them. Statutory services are overwhelmed with young people, where youth work is now playing a pivotal role in reducing violence among this demographic.”

The Met has anticipated that by March this year, the number of police officers will decrease to 31,258 from 33,766 in May 2024, as it grapples with a £20 million budget shortfall.

Sir Mark acknowledged the challenging climate, but assured that the force continues to make strides in crime reduction.

“Our focus must be on enhancing precision and efficiency,” he asserted. “That’s why we’re investing in data and technology—to identify the most dangerous individuals. Removing them from the streets can lead to the most significant impact.”