Neighbourhood crime plunges in London as Sadiq Khan slams 'dystopian hellhole' narrative

The Mayor of London has hit back at what he described as a spread of "lies and hatred" circulating online, creating a false impression that the capital is descending into chaos.But new figures released by City Hall show a different picture — with the Mayor insisting London is “getting safer”.Read MoreNeighbourhood crime fell by 14 per cent in the 12 months to June compared with the previous year, with around 35,000 fewer offences recorded across the capital.Robberies, thefts, burglaries and vehicle offences all dropped, including 23,311 fewer thefts from the person — a fall of 23 per cent — and 2,943 fewer personal robberies, down 11 per cent. Vehicle crime also fell by 8,737 offences, a 9 per cent drop.Phone thefts are on the decline in the capital, Met Police has saidPA MediaCrime in Westminster has plummeted by more than a third after a major police crackdown in London’s West End, with nearly 14,000 fewer neighbourhood offences recorded.The Metropolitan Police has revealed that 13,000 fewer thefts were reported across the capital over the past year, with a targeted crackdown on phone snatching helping to make both residents and tourists feel safer.The figures come as the number of officers dedicated to tackling the crime has doubled over the past year. A West End Command Cell, funded by City Hall, has also been established to coordinate intelligence, identify suspects and support enforcement operations."Whether Musk, Farage, or the captains of online disinformation, they want to paint London as a dystopian hellhole,” Sadiq Khan said. “These latest stats on high-volume crime show crime is coming down even further. London is getting safer."Boroughs which have seen the biggest fall in neighbourhood crime include Westminster (35%), Waltham Forest (25%), Camden (24%), Kensington and Chelsea (23%) and Hammersmith and Fulham (20%).Metropolitan Police during a foot patrol in central LondonAFP/GettyMet Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley described the figures as a "massive achievement" for the force, praising the work of officers across the capital."The figures are clear: London is safe and getting safer each year," he said.“Neighbourhood policing is the foundation of what we do – and neighbourhood crime is down 14 per cent across the capital. “This reduction is a reflection of a wider policing approach and the dedication and hard work of local officers, working with specialist colleagues across the Met, using cutting-edge technology, to bring more criminals to justice. “When neighbourhood policing works, its impact reaches far beyond local crime. Strong relationships with communities help us prevent and reduce wider forms of violence. “These latest statistics are a massive achievement and comes after we also announced at the start of the year that serious violence was down, making the capital an even safer global city for Londoners and international visitors alike.” Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan (left) and Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley PA ArchiveSince January 2020, Met Police has been using live facial recognition technology to help identify suspects. Live Facial Recognition (LFR) camera vans have been deployed across London's streets and at train stations, scanning crowds and comparing faces against police watchlists.The technology, alongside drones and high-powered e-bikes, has helped officers make around 1,000 arrests each month, while also leading to the seizure of knives, drugs and suspected stolen property.Serious violence has also fallen across the capital. In 2025, the number of homicides in London dropped to its lowest level in more than a decade, while knife crime fell by 17 per cent.Met Police say London's rate of violent crime is lower than that of many other major UK cities, as well as large cities in Europe and the United States.The force also said it has significantly improved its handling of sexual offence investigations, moving from one of the country's worst-performing forces to one of the best over the past three years.A facial recognition system is deployed by the Metropolitan Police at Oxford Circus GettyThe Mayor of London, Sir 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.”