Britain's most senior police officer has robustly challenged critics accused of spreading false narratives about crime in London, as new official figures reveal homicide rates in the capital have fallen to their lowest level in more than a decade.
Facts Versus Fiction: The Data on London's Safety
New statistics released by the Metropolitan Police show that 2025 saw 97 homicides in London, a significant drop of 11 per cent from the 109 recorded in 2024. This represents the lowest annual total since 2014, when 95 homicides were recorded.
Perhaps more tellingly, the data indicates that last year had the lowest homicide rate per capita on record, at 1.1 per 100,000 people. This comes despite London's population growing over the past decade. The Met was keen to contrast this figure with other global cities, noting it is lower than New York (2.8), Berlin (3.2), and Paris (1.6) per 100,000.
The force also highlighted particular success in reducing violence among young people, with the fewest number of victims aged under 25 this century. There has been a dramatic 73 per cent decrease in teenage victims since 2021, falling from 30 to just eight in 2025.
Political Pushback Against 'Dystopian' Narratives
The publication of these figures prompted strong responses from London's leading authorities, who took aim at high-profile critics. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley, writing in The Times, stated that "some commentators promote a narrative that suits them, regardless that the facts tell a very different story."
He specifically criticised the circulation of online falsehoods, including AI-generated videos depicting fictional violent scenarios. "London is safer, and the progress we are making is saving lives, is measurable and independently evidenced," Sir Mark asserted. "This is not a matter of opinion or messaging; it is what the data shows."
In a parallel piece for the Guardian, London Mayor Sadiq Khan accused certain politicians and commentators of "painting a dystopian picture of a lawless place where criminals run rampant." He directly referenced former US President Donald Trump, who has previously claimed London has areas police avoid and hospitals resembling "warzones."
Mayor Khan also singled out Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, who recently described London as being "in the grip of a crime wave." Khan's retort was unequivocal: "This latest startling statistic shows that those who talk down the capital at every opportunity couldn't be more wrong."
Broader Context and Ongoing Challenges
The Met's figures align with a national trend. Office for National Statistics data for England and Wales shows homicides fell to 518 in the year to June 2025, a 6% drop and the lowest level since current recording methods began in 2003.
Authorities credit part of London's success to the Mayor's Violence Reduction Unit, established in 2019, which has delivered over 550,000 interventions aimed at preventing young people from being drawn into gang activity.
Furthermore, public confidence appears to be rising, with 81 per cent of Londoners rating the Met's local performance as good or fair. However, this positive news follows a recent vetting review which found that 131 Met officers and staff, including two serial rapists, committed crimes or misconduct after inadequate vetting checks during a national recruitment drive between 2019 and 2023. The force states it has since taken action to tighten standards.
Commissioner Rowley concluded his defence of the capital's police force by emphasising a commitment to truth, stating: "We are proud to represent Londoners, and we will speak up for the truth — something that matters more than ever in an age of misinformation and disinformation."
