London recorded 97 homicides in 2025, the lowest in over a decade, with an 11% drop from 2024, per Metropolitan Police data
London Records Lowest Homicide Rate in Over a Decade
London has seen the lowest number of homicides in more than ten years, according to new figures from the Metropolitan Police. The force reported 97 killings in the capital last year, an 11% decrease from 2024’s figure of 109. This number is the lowest since 2014, when there were 95 homicides.
This announcement comes after Donald Trump claimed crime levels in London were “crazy” and that police avoided patrolling some areas. Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley called these allegations “complete nonsense.”
There was also a 6% decrease in homicides across England and Wales over the past year, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The ONS reported that homicides are at their lowest level since current reporting methods began in 2003.
| Year | London Homicides | England and Wales Homicides |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 109 | 552 |
| 2025 | 97 | 518 |
| 2019/20 | N/A | 710 |
In the year ending June 2025, police recorded 518 homicides, down from 552 the previous year. This figure is 27% lower than the pre-COVID total of 710 in 2019/20. Last year, London had the lowest homicide rate per capita on record, at 1.1 per 100,000 residents. This rate is lower than other major cities, including New York at 2.8, Berlin at 3.2, and Paris at 1.6 per 100,000.
Sir Mark attributed London’s “record-low homicide rate” to “relentless work.” He noted that 1,000 more offenders are arrested each month, using technology like live facial recognition. The police are also taking “precise action” against gangs and organized criminals.
Sir Mark stated, “The results speak for themselves: fewer lives lost, fewer families shattered.” The Met has focused on reducing violence among young people. They reported the fewest number of victims under 25 this century, with a 73% decrease in teenage victims since 2021, dropping from 30 to eight in 2025.
The mayor of London’s violence reduction unit, established in 2019, has delivered 550,000 interventions to prevent young people from joining gangs. Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan said, “Many people have been trying to talk London down, but the evidence tells a very different story.” He added that their focus on crime and its causes is effective.
Last November, President Trump claimed people were being stabbed in London and criticized Mayor Khan. Trump called the mayor “a disaster” and said crime levels were “crazy.” Sir Mark responded at the time, stating that Trump’s claims were “complete nonsense” and that there are no areas in London that police avoid.
Public confidence in policing is increasing, with 81% of Londoners rating the force as doing a good or fair job. However, this follows a vetting review that revealed 131 officers and staff at the Met committed crimes or misconduct due to improper vetting. Thousands of police officers were not properly checked during a recruitment drive from July 2019 to March 2023.
The Met has taken steps to improve its workforce and tighten vetting standards, being open about past practices that do not meet current standards.
