London's murder rate has fallen to its lowest level in over a decade, providing Mayor Sadiq Khan with powerful data to counter claims from figures like former US President Donald Trump that crime in the capital is spiralling out of control.
Official figures show significant decline in homicides
Official statistics released on Monday, 12 January 2026, reveal a notable drop in lethal violence. The Metropolitan Police recorded 97 homicides in London during 2025, a significant decrease from the 109 recorded in 2024. This marks the lowest annual total since 2014.
When adjusted for population, the rate stands at 1.1 homicides per 100,000 people. The force stated this is the lowest rate since comparable records began in 1997. For context, the police provided comparative figures: Paris reports 1.6 per 100,000, New York 2.8, and Berlin 3.2.
Khan's robust defence against "distortions and untruths"
Mayor Sadiq Khan seized upon the statistics to deliver a pointed rebuttal to critics who he says persistently misrepresent the city. In an interview with the Associated Press, Khan took aim at certain politicians and commentators.
"There are some politicians and commentators who’ve been spamming our social media with an endless stream of distortions and untruths, painting an image of a dystopian London," Khan stated. "And nothing could be further from the truth."
His comments were widely seen as a direct response to Donald Trump, who in September claimed crime in London was "through the roof." Trump has previously labelled Khan a "stone-cold loser" and a "terrible, terrible mayor."
Targeted policing and violence reduction credited
London officials attribute the decline in serious violence to a dual-strategy approach. Targeted policing operations aimed at disrupting organised crime networks have been coupled with the work of the city's Violence Reduction Unit.
This unit focuses on a public health approach to violence, working to prevent young people from being drawn into gang activity and addressing root causes. While celebrating the fall in homicides, authorities acknowledge other crime challenges persist.
Many Londoners report experiences with phone-snatching or have witnessed the rise in shoplifting noted by the Office for National Statistics. Furthermore, the Crime Survey for England and Wales indicated a 7% rise in overall crime for the year to March 2025 compared to the previous 12 months, though levels remain significantly lower than in 2017.
Khan concluded by vigorously defending London's global status, calling it "the greatest city in the world" and a leading capital for tourism, sport, culture, and education. He highlighted record levels of foreign direct investment and noted that more Americans came to London to study, work, or invest last year than ever before.
He positioned London as "the antithesis" of the narrative pushed by politicians like Trump or US Vice President JD Vance, who have voiced strong concerns about immigration in European cities.
