Sadiq Khan expressed his dissatisfaction with the negative portrayal of London amidst new statistics showing a significant decrease in homicides.
Recent data indicates a notable decline in the total number of killings, reaching a 14-year low and marking the lowest level per population since records began. The Mayor of London emphasized, “Despite attempts to criticize London, the statistics paint a different picture.”
“In the previous year, London recorded its lowest murder rate per capita in history, the fewest murders among individuals under 25 this century, and one of the lowest homicide figures in nearly thirty years,” Khan stated.
Utilizing technologies such as facial recognition and implementing targeted crackdowns on criminal groups, the Metropolitan Police has been able to make approximately 1,000 additional arrests monthly. The latest data reveals a total of 97 homicides in 2025, reflecting an 11% decrease compared to the previous year and marking the lowest count since 2014, despite the city’s population growth by over 500,000 individuals during that period.
London’s homicide rate stands at 1.1 per 100,000 people, in contrast to 2.8 in New York, 3.2 in Berlin, 11.7 in Chicago, 12.3 in Philadelphia, and 1.6 in Toronto. Khan remarked, “The outcomes speak for themselves: fewer lives lost, fewer families devastated. While every murder is tragic, we are committed to employing all available measures to combat serious violence.”
The data indicates that Metropolitan Police detectives achieved a remarkable 95% solve rate last year.
Lib Peck, the director of London’s violence reduction unit (VRU), mentioned, “Despite various discussions on London’s safety, homicide rates are at unprecedented lows, and violence continues to decrease.”
“There remains work to be done to address any discrepancies and counter online narratives to enhance public perceptions of safety. Nevertheless, last year’s data illustrates consistent progress,” Peck added.
These developments follow criticism from Reform mayoral candidate Laila Cunningham, who recently claimed that London’s safety was declining intentionally. Cunningham expressed concerns over the perceived diminishing safety of London compared to its past reputation as a desirable place to live and work.
The VRU conducted over 550,000 targeted interventions last year to prevent young individuals from getting involved in gang-related activities and violence.
Khan concluded, “Our sustained strategy of being tough on crime while addressing its root causes is evidently effective.”