London Mayor Sadiq Khan expressed his dismay at the negative portrayal of London as new statistics indicate a significant decrease in homicides.
Recent data released today shows a notable decline in the total number of killings, reaching a 14-year low and marking the lowest level relative to the population since records began. Khan emphasized, “Despite efforts to undermine London, the facts paint a different picture.”
Khan highlighted that in the previous year, London recorded the lowest murder rate per capita on record, the fewest murders among individuals under 25 this century, and one of the lowest homicide numbers in nearly thirty years.
The Mayor credited the Metropolitan Police’s use of advanced technology such as facial recognition and targeted operations against gangs, leading to an additional 1,000 arrests monthly. The latest figures indicate 97 homicides in 2025, an 11% decrease compared to the previous year and the lowest count since 2014, despite a population increase of over 500,000 in London during that period.
London’s homicide rate stands at 1.1 per 100,000 individuals, notably lower than rates in other major cities like New York, Berlin, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Toronto. Khan affirmed, “The outcomes are evident: fewer lives lost, fewer families affected. While every murder is tragic, we will persist in utilizing all available means to combat serious violence.”
The data reveals that Met Police detectives achieved a 95% solve rate in the past year. Lib Peck, director of London’s violence reduction unit (VRU), emphasized the misconception around London’s safety, pointing out that homicide levels are at historic lows and violence continues to decrease.
Notably, the VRU conducted over 550,000 targeted interventions last year to prevent youth from being lured into gangs and violence. Khan concluded, “Our continued focus on being tough on crime and addressing its root causes is evidently effective.”
These developments follow criticisms from Reform mayoral candidate Laila Cunningham, who recently expressed concerns about London’s safety perception. Cunningham remarked on the city’s shift from being a desirable place to live and work to being perceived as unsafe, emphasizing the need to address these challenges.