Sir Sadiq Khan has hit out at critics for “talking London down” after new figures on killings in the capital were revealed.
Data released on Monday showed that homicides in in the capital had dropped to their lowest levels in more than a decade.
Met Police figures show London recorded 97 homicides last year – the lowest since 2014.
Figures also showed that the capital’s homicide rate per capita fell to a record low of 1.1 per 100,000 last year, lower than other major cities including New York, Paris and Berlin.
Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said: “London’s record‑low homicide rate is the result of relentless work.
“Arresting 1,000 more offenders each month, using innovative technology such as live facial recognition to solve more crime, and taking precise action against the most dangerous gangs, organised criminals, and predatory men who target women and children.
“The results speak for themselves: fewer lives lost, fewer families shattered.
“Every murder is a tragedy, but we will continue to use every tool at our disposal to drive down serious violence.”
Sir Mark launched a scathing attack on critics of the current state of London in The Times.
He wrote: “Some commentators promote a narrative that suits them, regardless that the facts tell a very different story.
London recorded 97 homicides last year – the lowest since 2014
|
GETTY“This is not a matter of opinion or messaging; it is what the data shows.
“We are proud to represent Londoners, and we will speak up for the truth – something that matters more than ever in an age of misinformation and disinformation.”
The Met’s efforts have proven especially effective in protecting young Londoners, with teenage homicide victims falling by 73 per cent since 2021.
The force also recorded the fewest victims aged under 25 this century.
SADIQ KHAN – READ THE LATEST:
Sir Mark Rowley said ‘the facts tell a very different story’ about crime in London
|
GETTYAnd Sir Sadiq said: “Many people have been trying to talk London down, but the evidence tells a very different story.
“It’s clear that our sustained focus on being both tough on crime and tough on the complex causes of crime is working.”
Public trust in the Met has also strengthened, with 81 per cent of Londoners rating the force’s local performance as good or fair.
But a vetting review published Thursday found 131 officers and staff – including two serial rapists – had committed crimes or misconduct after being inadequately screened.
Sir Sadiq accused critics of ‘trying to talk London down’
|
GETTYThe inquiry revealed thousands of officers and staff were improperly vetted during a national recruitment drive from July 2019 to March 2023.
The Met said it has since strengthened vetting procedures, taken action to address past failings, and is being transparent about historical practices that would not meet today’s standards.
Despite the fall in London’s homicide rate, other forms of crime such as robbery, theft and weapons possession continue to rise.
According to Statista, there were 951,803 crimes reported in London in 2024/25 alone.
