Westminster Leads London in Violence Rate, Croydon Sees Most Offences

Westminster recorded the highest rate of Violence Against the Person offences per capita across London in the 12 months to September 2026, according to Metropolitan Police data. The borough registered 47 offences for every 1,000 residents. This measure highlights the intensity of recorded violence relative to population size.

In terms of sheer volume, Croydon reported the highest number of Violence Against the Person offences, with 12,443 incidents recorded during the same period. Newham followed closely with 12,331 offences, and Westminster was third with 12,242. These figures represent the total count of incidents within each borough.

Overall London Violence Figures

Across Greater London, nearly 280,000 Violence Against the Person offences were logged in the 12 months leading up to September 2026. This figure represents a 7.6 per cent increase compared to the preceding 12-month period ending in September 2025. However, Metropolitan Police data also indicated a month-on-month decrease, with a 3.3 per cent fall in September 2026 compared to August 2026.

The category of Violence Against the Person is broad, encompassing a wide spectrum of criminal activity. It includes less severe incidents such as harassment and common assault, as well as more serious crimes like grievous bodily harm and murder.

Borough-Specific Rates and Totals

Beyond Westminster's high rate, other boroughs also showed significant figures. Tower Hamlets had the second-highest rate at 37.2 per 1,000 people, followed by Hounslow at 36.0. Camden recorded 35.0, Hackney 35.8, and Newham 34.9. In terms of total offences, after Croydon and Newham, Westminster ranked third. Other boroughs with high total offence numbers included Tower Hamlets (11,792), Ealing (11,431), and Lewisham (11,239).

The data also identified boroughs with lower recorded totals. Richmond upon Thames had the lowest figure among those detailed, with 3,465 offences. Kingston upon Thames recorded 4,165, and Merton had 4,783. Sutton recorded 5,377 offences.

Recent Incidents

The reporting period has seen several high-profile incidents across London. These have included a Metropolitan Police officer being stabbed during dawn raids involving over 800 officers. Separately, a man carrying what appeared to be a rifle in Edgware led to a temporary lockdown at Menorah Grammar School.