Neighbourhood crime across London has fallen by 14 per cent over the past 12 months, according to new figures released by the Metropolitan Police, marking more than 35,000 fewer offences across the capital.
The latest data, covering the 12 months to June, shows significant reductions in the crimes that most directly affect residents, businesses and visitors, including theft, robbery and vehicle-related offences.
The figures reveal:
- 23,311 fewer thefts from person, a reduction of 23 per cent
- 2,943 fewer personal robberies, down 11 per cent
- 8,737 fewer vehicle offences, down 9 per cent
The decline follows a sustained investment in neighbourhood policing, with additional officers deployed to high-crime hotspots and intelligence-led operations targeting prolific offenders.
With London expecting more than five million additional visitors during the peak summer tourism season, alongside the school holidays, the Metropolitan Police and City Hall say maintaining public safety remains a priority.
One of the most notable improvements has been recorded in London's West End, where mobile phone thefts have been cut by half and neighbourhood crime has fallen by around 14,000 offences over the past year.
The reduction follows a doubling of patrol officers in the area and the introduction of a new West End Command Cell, funded by the Mayor of London. The unit brings together police and partner agencies to share intelligence, identify suspects and tackle robbery, theft and anti-social behaviour.
By focusing resources on these offences, the Met aims to improve safety for both residents and the millions of tourists who visit the capital each year.
Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said:
“Neighbourhood policing is about being visible, listening to Londoners and tackling the issues that matter most to them. That focus is delivering results, with neighbourhood crime down 14 per cent across the capital.
“By putting more officers on the frontline and using cutting-edge technology, we are bringing more criminals to justice. We’ve doing all of this despite the Met shrinking as a police force with less money and few officers overall.
“While there is more to do, these figures show that neighbourhood policing is having a real impact, and we will continue working tirelessly alongside communities to cut crime and keep Londoners safe.”
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said:
“At the start of the year, we set out the huge strides the capital had made tackling violent crime. Today, I’m really pleased to announce that thanks to my record investment in the Met, the hard work of officers and London’s Violence Reduction Unit, further significant reductions have been made in neighbourhood crime across London.
“There have been 35,000 fewer neighbourhood crimes – a drop of 14 per cent - with robberies of personal property, thefts from person, residential burglaries and vehicle crime offences falling London wide in the last year. In the West End alone, we have seen phone thefts halved and 14,000 fewer neighbourhood crimes, following a doubling of officers on patrol in the heart of the capital. A new Command Cell in the heart of the West End, funded by City Hall, is also serving as a central point to share intelligence, identify suspects and help prevent robberies, theft and anti-social behaviour.
“With more than five million extra visitors coming to London during the peak tourism season and the start of the school summer holidays, the Met Police are building on this work with extra officers in hotspot areas, tackling issues that matter to local communities including anti-social behaviour, robbery and mobile phone theft.
“We know many people online and across the world have been trying to talk London down, but the evidence is clear - London is one of safest global cities in the world, crime is falling and we’ll continue working together to build a safer London for everyone.”
Several boroughs recorded substantial decreases in neighbourhood crime over the past year:
- Westminster: down 36%
- Waltham Forest: down 26%
- Camden: down 25%
- Kensington and Chelsea: down 23%
- Hammersmith and Fulham: down 20%
- Islington: down 20%
In Camden alone, neighbourhood crime fell by approximately 3,500 offences, while Westminster recorded almost 14,000 fewer offences, reflecting the benefits of targeted enforcement activity.
The Metropolitan Police says technology is playing an increasingly important role in crime prevention and offender detection.
Live facial recognition cameras, drones and high-powered e-bikes are being used to identify suspects and disrupt criminal activity. As a result, officers are now making around 1,000 arrests every month and regularly recovering stolen property, illegal e-bikes, knives and drugs.
The force is also making greater use of Criminal Behaviour Orders (CBOs) to restrict the movements and activities of repeat offenders.
One recent case saw a prolific offender sentenced to four years in prison and issued with a 50-year CBO after multiple theft and burglary convictions. The order prevents the individual from entering Camden and Westminster, carrying drug-related equipment in public and accessing several retail chains across England and Wales.
The latest neighbourhood crime figures follow other positive trends recorded across London.
During the 2025 calendar year, the number of murders fell to its lowest level in more than a decade, while knife-enabled crime declined by 17 per cent.
The Metropolitan Police says the latest figures demonstrate how targeted neighbourhood policing, partnership working and technology-led enforcement are contributing to long-term reductions in crime across the capital.
Image credit: iStock
