Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has launched a robust defence of the capital's safety record, revealing that the city has achieved its lowest per capita homicide rate in recorded history. This milestone comes amid sustained criticism from figures like Donald Trump and Nigel Farage, who have repeatedly described London as a dangerous "warzone."
Contesting the 'Warzone' Narrative
In recent years, a stark narrative has been promoted by certain politicians and commentators, portraying London as a lawless city overrun by violent crime. From across the Atlantic, former US President Donald Trump has made sensational claims, suggesting the capital is moving towards sharia law and that its hospitals resemble combat zones.
Closer to home, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage recently asserted that London was "in the grip of a crime wave." This rhetoric was echoed by the party's new candidate for Mayor of London, Laila Cunningham, who claimed people pitied Londoners for living in a city that was "no longer safe." These statements were made at a press conference at London Bridge on 7 January 2026.
The Evidence: A Strategy Delivering Results
Mayor Khan argues the latest data proves these critics profoundly wrong. London's homicide rate is now lower than that of New York, Berlin, Brussels, Milan, Toronto, and Paris. It is five times lower than Los Angeles and nearly twelve times lower than Chicago.
This transformation is attributed to a dual-strategy approach initiated at the start of Khan's first term. Firstly, City Hall has more than doubled its investment in the Metropolitan Police, funding extra officers and advanced technology. This has led to an extra 1,000 arrests per month, the removal of 3,750 guns and knives from streets, and the disruption of organised crime groups over 21,000 times.
Recognising that enforcement alone is insufficient, the Mayor established London's Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) in 2019, the first of its kind in England. Focusing on prevention, the VRU has worked with schools, charities, and communities to deliver more than 550,000 targeted interventions for young people at risk.
A Legacy of Hope and a Safer Future
The impact on young Londoners has been particularly significant. Last year saw the fewest homicides of victims under 25 this century. The homicide rate for under-25s is now three times lower than in 2019, and hospital admissions for youth knife assault have fallen by 43% in the same period.
Khan highlighted the enduring legacy of Damilola Taylor, a 10-year-old boy killed in 2000, whose parents founded a trust to support young people. He pointed to centres like the Damilola Taylor Centre in Peckham, funded through City Hall's MyEnds programme, as examples of providing safe spaces and positive opportunities that steer youth away from violence.
While acknowledging that one homicide is always one too many, the Mayor stated the collapsing crime rate confirms London is on the right path. He concluded that the true story of London is not one of fear, but of resilience and targeted investment creating a safer city for all.
