London Mayor Sadiq Khan expressed his dissatisfaction with the negative portrayal of London, despite new data showing a significant decline in homicides. Statistics released today indicate a 14-year low in the total number of killings, marking the lowest rate per population since records began. Khan emphasized that the facts present a contrasting narrative to those attempting to denigrate London.
In the previous year, London reported the lowest per capita murder rate on record, the fewest murders among individuals under 25 in the current century, and one of the lowest homicide counts in almost thirty years. Khan credited the Metropolitan Police for leveraging technologies like facial recognition and targeted operations against gangs, leading to an additional 1,000 arrests monthly.
The latest figures for 2025 revealed a total of 97 homicides, reflecting an 11% decrease compared to the previous year and the lowest count since 2014, despite a population increase of over 500,000 in London. The city’s homicide rate stands at 1.1 per 100,000 residents, notably lower than rates in other major cities like New York, Berlin, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Toronto.
Khan highlighted the success of crime reduction efforts, with a 95% solve rate achieved by the Met Police detectives last year. Meanwhile, London’s Violence Reduction Unit director, Lib Peck, emphasized the record-low homicide levels and ongoing decline in violence, acknowledging the need to address online narratives to enhance public safety perceptions.
The VRU conducted over 550,000 targeted interventions to prevent youth involvement in gangs and violence last year. Khan reaffirmed the effectiveness of a dual approach focusing on crime deterrence and addressing its root causes. This positive trend follows recent remarks by mayoral candidate Laila Cunningham, who criticized London’s safety, contrasting with the data indicating progress in reducing crime rates.