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Crime Data
Recorded-crime statistics, trends and explainers with geography, period and limitations stated.
101 stories · page 1 of 6
Biggin Hill bones confirmed as archaeological, investigation closed
Crime Data—30 Oct 2026, 10:451 min readHuman bones discovered at a Biggin Hill address on August 7 have been confirmed as archaeological by the Metropolitan Police Service. The investigation into the discovery on Aperfield Road is now being closed.Read more
Hillingdon leads London in 'Miscellaneous Crimes Against Society' offencesCrime Data—30 Oct 2026, 09:053 min readHillingdon recorded 194 offences in the 'Miscellaneous Crimes Against Society' category in September 2026, according to Metropolitan Police data. This figure is more than three times higher than the second-highest borough, Newham, which had 62 offences.
Met Police Issue Burglary Prevention AdviceCrime Data—27 Oct 2026, 19:052 min readThe Metropolitan Police have issued guidance to London residents on preventing burglaries. The force reports a decrease in local crimes like burglary, robbery, and theft, alongside an increase in arrests.
London Violence Reduction Unit invests £140m in preventative crime measures
Crime Data—25 Oct 2026, 16:054 min readLondon's Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) has invested over £140 million since 2019, reaching 750,000 young people with diversionary activities. Director Lib Peck argues that a preventative approach, alongside enforcement, is crucial for tackling high crime levels and has led to a reduction in violence with injury.London Ambulance Service staff report 462 abuse incidents
Crime Data—24 Oct 2026, 15:463 min readLondon Ambulance Service call handlers reported 462 incidents of sexual abuse in the year to July 2026. Around a third of these occurred in control rooms, with some staff needing therapy due to the abuse.Lewisham Leads South East London in Violence Rates
Crime Data—24 Oct 2026, 13:453 min readLewisham has recorded the highest rate of violence against the person in south-east London, with 36.2 offences per 1,000 people in the year ending September 2026. Across the capital, such offences rose by 7.6 per cent.
Met Police boost language support for Tower Hamlets callers
Crime Data—24 Oct 2026, 09:453 min readThe Metropolitan Police is enhancing support for callers in Tower Hamlets facing language barriers, with plans for AI translation services and a focus on identifying vulnerable individuals who may not present as immediate emergencies. Bethnal Green police station's front counter remains open following public advocacy.London knife assaults on young people fall 55%
Crime Data—23 Oct 2026, 00:253 min readHospital admissions for knife assaults among young people in London have fallen by 55% since 2019. The Metropolitan Police recorded nearly 14,000 knife-enabled crimes in the year to March 2026, with the Violence Reduction Unit reporting nearly 12,500 fewer victims of violence causing injury.Croydon and Westminster record highest violence offences
Crime Data—22 Oct 2026, 05:453 min readCroydon recorded the highest total number of violence against the person offences in London, with 12,443 incidents in the year ending September 2026. Westminster followed closely with 12,242 offences, also recording the highest rate per 1,000 people.
Currys panic alarm triggered in Crayford retail park
Crime Data—21 Oct 2026, 18:451 min readA panic alarm was activated at the Currys store in Crayford's Tower Retail Park on October 20 after youths reportedly refused to leave the premises. Police attended the scene and conducted a search of the area.Southwark records highest crime rate in south-east London
Crime Data—21 Oct 2026, 18:452 min readSouthwark recorded the highest number of criminal offences in south-east London during September, with 3,725 crimes reported. Theft was the most prevalent offence in the borough, followed by violence against the person. This data comes from Metropolitan Police figures released by News Shopper and This Is Local London.
London criminals in psychiatric care to lose £800 monthly benefits
Crime Data—20 Oct 2026, 00:254 min readSerious offenders in London's psychiatric hospitals may have their monthly benefits capped at £800 under new government regulations. The changes, driven by victims' families' campaigns, seek to end a loophole where living costs are covered by both taxpayers and welfare payments.
Chelsea fans linked to 67 arrests in 2025/26 season
Crime Data—19 Oct 2026, 12:052 min readChelsea supporters were connected to 67 arrests and 76 police actions during the 2025/26 football season, the highest figure for a London club. The data, analysed by 101 Great Goals, shows Chelsea ranked second nationally, behind Manchester City.Westminster drug offences 8.5 times higher than five London boroughs
Crime Data—19 Oct 2026, 05:052 min readWestminster recorded the highest number of drug offences in London during September 2026, with a rate 8.5 times higher than five other boroughs. This comes as overall drug offences across the capital fell by 10.6% in the year to September 2026.
Wing mirrors worth £40,000 stolen from luxury cars in Chelsea
Crime Data—18 Oct 2026, 12:052 min readLuxury cars in Chelsea were targeted by thieves who stole wing mirrors, with the total cost estimated at over £40,000. The Metropolitan Police have confirmed that investigations are underway.Westminster records 5,498 theft offences in September, highest in London
Crime Data—18 Oct 2026, 05:453 min readIn September 2026 Westminster logged 5,498 theft offences, the largest total of any London borough, with a per‑capita rate of 21.1 per 1,000 people. City‑wide theft numbers fell 1.8 per cent over the previous year, prompting a police review.Enfield food charity appeals for £6,000 after van theft
Crime Data—15 Oct 2026, 16:463 min readEnfield-based food charity Cooking Champions has launched an appeal for £6,000 after its van was stolen from outside the founder's home on Tuesday. The vehicle, carrying catering equipment and food, is essential for the charity's work supporting vulnerable people in the borough.Reform UK councillor Dean Miller filmed making racist comments
Crime Data—15 Oct 2026, 13:463 min readReform UK councillor Dean Miller has been secretly recorded making racist and misogynistic comments, including referring to black children as 'animals' and claiming King Charles is a Muslim. The revelations have prompted calls for immediate action from party leader Nigel Farage.
Stolen car crashes after Plumstead burglary
Crime Data—14 Oct 2026, 16:472 min readA van and car were stolen from a Plumstead address during an overnight burglary. The car was later found crashed into a tree in Welling, and the van was recovered abandoned.Racial bias found in London music licensing and policing
Crime Data—14 Oct 2026, 12:464 min readA report commissioned by the Greater London Authority has found evidence of racial bias in London's music licensing and policing. Black-led music events face disproportionate restrictions and cancellations, with genres like Afrobeats and hip-hop routinely flagged as high risk.
Hounslow shops found selling illegal medicines and vapes
Crime Data—14 Oct 2026, 11:453 min readA joint operation by Hounslow Trading Standards and the Metropolitan Police uncovered a significant quantity of illegal goods in shops across the borough. Seizures included unregulated medicines, counterfeit tobacco, and vapes, with authorities linking the trade to organised crime.Black music events face higher shutdown rates, report finds
Crime Data—14 Oct 2026, 08:253 min readBlack and South Asian music events are cancelled, restricted, or shut down more frequently than white-led events, according to a new report. The Race Equality In Music Event Licensing project found these issues put over £650 million at risk over five years.Havering vehicle theft operation recovers two cars as London sees surge in thefts
Crime Data—14 Oct 2026, 06:463 min readA Met police raid in Havering recovered two stolen vehicles and made several arrests. Across the UK, vehicle thefts are up nearly 50% on a ten‑year basis, with only 3% of offences resulting in a charge. Operation Alliances added 286 arrests and 319 seized cars.
Tower Hamlets records most east London crime reports in September
Crime Data—14 Oct 2026, 06:052 min readTower Hamlets recorded the highest number of crime reports in east London during September 2026, with 3,462 incidents logged by the Metropolitan Police. Theft was the most frequent offence, accounting for 1,220 of these reports.Barnet logs six gun offences in September 2026, among the lowest in London
Crime Data—14 Oct 2026, 05:453 min readSeptember 2026 saw 130 gun‑related offences across London. Barnet recorded six, matching Tower Hamlets and staying well below the city’s peak in Newham. A separate shooting on Leigham Court Road in Streatham left a man in his 20s with non‑life‑threatening injuries.
Hounslow shops raided: 1,019 illicit cigarette packs seized
Crime Data—13 Oct 2026, 17:263 min readHounslow Council's Trading Standards officers, with the Metropolitan Police, raided 14 shops on September 1. The operation uncovered 1,019 packets of illicit cigarettes, 445 vapes, and 492 packets of medicines, including illegal erectile dysfunction drugs.
MI5 chief warns AI could aid terrorists in bioweapon access
Crime Data—13 Oct 2026, 13:464 min readThe head of MI5 has warned that artificial intelligence could provide terrorists with access to bioweapons or help generate new pathogens if safety measures fail. Sir Ken McCallum announced the launch of a new centre to assess these developing threats.
Defence minister calls Royal Navy shooting migrant boats 'illegal and disgusting'
Crime Data—13 Oct 2026, 09:253 min readDefence minister Luke Pollard has described suggestions by Robert Jenrick that the Royal Navy could use lethal force against migrant boats as 'illegal and disgusting'. Mr Jenrick's comments follow a rise in the average number of people per boat crossing the Channel.
Counterfeit goods worth £2,000 seized in Edmonton operation
Crime Data—13 Oct 2026, 07:463 min readEnfield Council and the Metropolitan Police seized counterfeit products, including AirPods and phone accessories, from 15 Edmonton shops. The operation aimed to combat mobile phone theft and disrupt illegal supply chains, with seized items estimated to be worth £2,000.
Prolific shoplifter reoffends day after early release from Wandsworth
Crime Data—9 Oct 2026, 18:053 min readA prolific shoplifter was arrested for new offences within 24 hours of being released early from HMP Wandsworth. The incident has prompted a senior police officer to write to MPs and councillors about the government's Early Release Scheme.