London Mayor Sadiq Khan expressed his discontent with negative rhetoric about London amidst reports of a significant decrease in homicides. Recently released data indicates a notable decline in total killings, reaching a 14-year low and marking the lowest level per capita since record-keeping began. Khan emphasized, “Despite attempts to disparage London, the statistics paint a different picture.”
In the past year, London recorded its lowest murder rate per capita on record, the fewest murders among individuals under 25 in this century, and one of the lowest homicide numbers in nearly thirty years. Khan attributed these achievements to the Metropolitan Police’s adoption of technologies like facial recognition and targeted actions against criminal groups, resulting in an additional 1,000 arrests monthly.
The latest figures reveal 97 homicides in 2025, reflecting an 11% decrease from the previous year and the lowest count since 2014, despite a population increase of over 500,000 in London during the same period. The city’s homicide rate stands at 1.1 per 100,000 people, considerably lower than rates in cities like New York, Berlin, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Toronto.
Khan affirmed, “The outcome speaks for itself: reduced loss of lives, fewer devastated families. While every murder is tragic, we are committed to utilizing all available means to combat serious violence.” Data also showed that Met Police detectives achieved a 95% solve rate for homicides last year.
Director of London’s violence reduction unit, Lib Peck, highlighted the record lows in homicide levels and continued decline in violence, emphasizing the need to address online narratives to enhance public perception of safety. The VRU conducted over 550,000 targeted interventions last year to deter youth involvement in gangs and violence.
In response to criticisms from Reform mayoral candidate Laila Cunningham, who portrayed London as unsafe, Khan reiterated the success of their comprehensive approach to tackling crime and its root causes. He asserted, “Our sustained efforts to be tough on crime while addressing its complex origins are yielding positive results.”
