London Crime Overview: 2025

Widely regarded as one of the world’s greatest cities, London consistently ranks highly as one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations. Vibrant, cosmopolitan and cultured, from sporting venues to theatres and restaurants to museums, London offers an eclectic and unique experience for everyone.

However, like most major cities, the UK’s capital has its fair share of problems with crime. The rise in knifings, street robberies and acid attacks have all been widely documented with London Mayor Sadiq Khan coming under increased criticism for failing to properly tackle the issue. At one stage, crime had grown at such a rapid rate that it was alleged that London had become more dangerous than New York.

London Street Crime 

Street crime in London has remained consistently widespread with pickpockets, scam artists and muggers converging around crowded areas such as large events, tourist hotspots and the main public transport hubs. Tourists can be unfamiliar to the geographical layout of the city or to traditional London customs making them easy targets for criminals. London’s busy areas may also become targets for terrorists.

The increased spate of knife crime has become a serious concern for many Londoners with rates surpassing pre-pandemic levels. Although largely attributed to gangland feuds, London has the highest rate of serious knife crimes in England with a year-on-year increase of 20%.

In 2024, the Metropolitan Police recorded approximately 15,016 offences involving a knife or sharp instrument in London, a statistic that has risen from 12,786 the previous year. This being the highest figure since 2020, when there were 15,928 such offences. Data released by the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime stated that Westminster was the area with the most knife attacks followed by Kensington & Chelsea.

In addition, the use of acid and other corrosive liquids has been increasingly prevalent during robberies, burglaries and revenge attacks. Figures released by the NHS revealed that throughout the UK, one person is attacked with acid every three days with London recording the highest number of cases.

Snatch Crime & Mobile Phone Theft

Snatch crime, particularly mobile phone snatching, has surged dramatically in recent years, making it one of the most serious street crime issues in London. Thieves typically use bikes, e-bikes, and mopeds to snatch phones, approaching their victims from behind while they are using their devices.

Mobile phone thefts have more than tripled over the past four years with an average of 192 phones stolen in London every day, this roughly equates to one being stolen every seven-and-a-half minutes.

London has also experienced a significant rise in luxury watch thefts. These thefts often involve violence and intimidation, with offenders using weapons such as knives and machetes. These crimes often occur in broad daylight in affluent areas like Mayfair, Knightsbridge, Chelsea, Soho and South Kensington.

Luxury Watch Theft

In recent times, watch thefts in London have become increasingly prevalent with attacks involving increased amounts of violence. More disturbingly, some victims have not just lost their watches but their lives. Attacks often involve muggings, drive-by attacks on mopeds, and ‘follow-home’ robberies from luxury shopping areas and high-end restaurants.

Thieves typically target the high-value watch brands such as Rolex, Cartier, Omega, Bremont, Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet and Richard Mille. The combined value of stolen luxury watches in the UK now stands at £1.6 billion, with London being the primary hotspot.

Sexual Crime & Rape Statistics 

Alarmingly, a rape is reported every hour in London, a statistic that UK rape charities declared as ‘horrifying’. In 2023, more than 8,800 rape incidents were reported to the Metropolitan Police – an average of 24 a day.

Terrorism and Public Safety

London has been on the receiving end of several high-profile terrorist attacks. In 2017 there were three major terrorism incidents in London, claiming 15 lives and injuring around 100 people.

The most recent terror attack took place in February 2020, on Streatham High Road in south London, where two members of the public were stabbed. The attacker, Sudesh Amman, was subsequently shot and killed by armed police officers who had been tracking him. Amman had been released from prison for terrorism offenses a few days prior to the attack.

The repercussions of recent terrorist attacks has led to the installation of barriers along some of London’s main bridges aimed to prevent vehicles from mounting the pavement. To offer public reassurance, an increased police presence is sometimes evident at heavily populated areas.

The UK government has also pledged tougher jail sentences for anyone with links to terrorism and has increased resources for counter terror police. At the time of writing, the terrorist threat level throughout the UK has been reduced from Substantial to Moderate. This means that a terrorist attack is possible, but not likely.

Police Cuts and Public Confidence

It is no coincidence that increased crime throughout the UK can be correlated to significant government cuts to policing. Warnings from a number of senior police chiefs on the impact of these cuts were ignored by the government resulting in a significant increase in crime. With an overstretched police force, a survey conducted by the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime’s Public Attitude Survey showed that public confidence in the Metropolitan Police had significantly fallen to an all-time low.

In a recent survey, 52% of UK adults said that they had no or not very much confidence in the police to tackle localised crime and throughout the UK, many people simply don’t report crime because they feel that nothing will be done.

London’s Main Areas of Crime

Statistics released by the Metropolitan Police has consistently highlighted Westminster as London’s most crime ridden area. Located in central London, Westminster boasts many of London’s most iconic venues with Buckingham Palace, Oxford Street, Piccadilly Circus and the Houses of Parliament all coming under its jurisdiction. It also hosts some of the most affluent parts of London such as Mayfair and Belgravia.

CCTV in London

One thing that London is well known for is the number of closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras spread throughout the city. With the average Londoner being caught on camera around 300 times a day, London has often been referred to as the CCTV capital of the world. Between 2007 and 2010 London invested over £300 million on the installation and operation of CCTV units.

Today it is estimated that there are more than 600, 000 CCTV cameras dotted around London, with 15,516 cameras in operation in the Underground alone. These have been installed with the aim of deterring crime and antisocial behaviour. Recording criminal acts can help to identifying the perpetrators and use the footage as evidence in a court of law.

Staying Safe in London

As with any trip, it is always advisable to plan ahead. Here are some tips to help you stay safe:

• Plan your trip and always inform a trusted friend or relative of your itinerary so they know where you are going
• Make a list of emergency contact numbers such as your consulate, your bank and anyone else you may need in times of an emergency
• Keep your purse or wallet close to your body and don’t carry too much cash
• Only use licensed taxis or registered minicabs
• When using a cashpoint, check that no one is looking over your shoulder and that the ATM hasn’t been tampered with. Cover the keypad so no one else can see your PIN number
• Keep valuable items such as cash, jewellery and mobile phones out of sight
• Avoid walking alone at night and remain within well-lit busy main roads
• When out and about refrain from wearing headphones or being glued to your mobile phone – this drastically reduces your awareness
• Don’t leave your bag or belongings unattended – this can invite criminals or lead to a security alert
• Don’t accept drinks from strangers

Conclusion

In general, London is a safe city to visit however visitors are advised to be on their guard. In recent years London has experienced a lot of negative publicity regarding its rise in crime. Terms like ‘crime wave’ and ‘no-go areas’ has done little to improve London’s reputation. Several high-profile attacks has further dented the city’s image.

Nevertheless, with an estimated 600,000 CCTV cameras dotted around London, the UK authorities have invested heavily in their fight against crime. With additional promises to increase the number of police officers, substantial efforts are being made to tackle the continued upsurge. London is a city that must be visited at least once, but as with any big city, it’s advisable to take sensible precautions. Plan ahead, always remain vigilant and your visit should be a safe one.

Final Word

Do you live in London and have concerns for your safety, or are you planning a trip to London sometime soon?

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This article was written by Intrepid Protection, London’s leading provider of bodyguard, close protection and residential security services.

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