London Mayor Sadiq Khan expressed his dismay over negative perceptions of London despite new data indicating a significant decrease in homicides.
Recent statistics reveal that the overall number of killings in London has dropped to the lowest level in 14 years, reaching a record low per population since records began. Khan emphasized, “Despite efforts to undermine London’s reputation, the data paints a different picture.”
In the past year, London reported the lowest murder rate per capita on record, the fewest murders among individuals under 25 this century, and one of the lowest homicide rates in nearly 30 years.
Khan highlighted the use of advanced technologies such as facial recognition and targeted actions against criminal gangs, leading to an additional 1,000 monthly arrests by the Metropolitan Police. The latest figures show 97 homicides in 2025, marking an 11% year-on-year decline and the lowest total since 2014, despite a population increase of over 500,000 in London during that period.
With a homicide rate of 1.1 per 100,000 people, London compares favorably to other major cities like New York, Berlin, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Toronto. Khan stated, “The outcomes speak volumes: fewer lives lost, fewer families devastated. While each murder is tragic, we remain committed to leveraging every available resource to combat serious violence.”
Metropolitan Police detectives achieved a commendable 95% solve rate last year. Lib Peck, the director of London’s violence reduction unit (VRU), underscored the significant progress made in reducing violence and record-low homicide levels.
In response to recent criticism from mayoral candidate Laila Cunningham, who raised concerns about London’s safety, Khan reiterated that sustained efforts to address both crime and its root causes have proven effective.
The VRU conducted over 550,000 targeted interventions last year to prevent youth involvement in gangs and violence, further supporting the downward trend in crime.
Khan concluded, “Our persistent focus on tackling crime and its underlying complexities is yielding positive results.”
