A new poll has revealed that six in ten women in London believe the capital is becoming less safe, delivering a significant blow to Mayor Sadiq Khan amid ongoing debates over law and order.
The JL Partners survey, conducted for the London School of Economics, found that a majority of Londoners—including men—think safety in the city is deteriorating. The findings come after a series of high-profile stabbings and shootings.
Key Findings on Safety Perceptions
When asked whether living in London has become more or less safe generally, 61% of women said less safe, compared to 46% of men, resulting in an overall figure of 54%. Only 17% of Londoners believed the capital had become safer, including 22% of men and 13% of women.
On personal safety, 53% of women felt London had become less safe for them personally, while 40% of men agreed, giving a combined 47%. Just 16% of adults said the city was now safer for them personally, with 11% of women and 22% of men holding that view.
Even among those who felt safer personally, a third named crime and safety as a top concern.
Impact of High-Profile Cases
The murder of Sarah Everard by a serving police officer in March 2021 shocked the nation and intensified pressure on authorities to improve women's safety. Despite subsequent measures, including disciplinary action against corrupt officers, concerns remain high across all age groups.
Forty-eight per cent of young Londoners aged 18 to 24 said the city had become less safe for them personally, the second highest after the 45-54 age group at 53%. However, one in five young Londoners believed the city was safer.
Geographical and Demographic Differences
Nearly half (49%) of Outer London residents felt the capital was less safe for them personally, compared to 43% in Inner London. Conversely, 19% of Inner Londoners believed the city was becoming safer, versus 14% in Outer London.
When asked about local council priorities, 39% cited crime and anti-social behaviour, 38% housing affordability, and 25% reducing public waste.
Expert Reactions
Jenevieve Treadwell, a London politics fellow at LSE, said: "People aren’t just worried about their own personal safety, they are worried about the state of the city. Even one in seven Londoners that believe the city is becoming safer for them personally also say the city is becoming less safe in general."
Tom Lubbock, co-founder of JL Partners, added: "When a majority of women in London feel the city is getting less safe, that is a blow for Sadiq Khan. No amount of crime stats can outdo that lived experience."
Income and Ethnicity Factors
The survey also found that 57% of those earning below £30,000 believed London had become less safe generally, compared to 56% of those earning £30,000-£60,000 and 48% of those above £60,000. Just one in ten low earners thought the capital had become safer.
Around half of white and Asian Londoners felt less safe personally, compared to a third of black individuals. One in three black people said the capital had become safer for them personally, far more than the 14% of white British and 17% of Asian Londoners.
Political Implications
The poll was conducted ahead of May's local elections, during which Reform UK made law and order a central issue. Crime and safety was mentioned by 40% of Londoners as a factor influencing their vote, behind prices and bills (43%) and ahead of housing (32%).
The survey of 2,022 adults was conducted online between March 17 and 27.
