The following list shows the rates of crime per 1000 people for London’s top 10 most dangerous boroughs. The number of crimes reported for 2022 is shown, with the figure in brackets indicating the corresponding value for 2021.
- City of London: 895 crimes per 1,000 people (665)
- Westminster: 298 crimes per 1,000 people (189)
- Kensington and Chelsea: 243 crimes per 1,000 people (115)
- Camden: 218 crimes per 1,000 people (107)
- Hammersmith and Fulham: 129.4 crimes per 1,000 people (103)
- Hackney: 125.3 crimes per 1,000 people (105)
- Islington: 124.4 crimes per 1,000 people (102)
- Harringay: 121 crimes per 1,000 people (106)
- Southwark: 120.8 crimes per 1,000 people (98)
- Tower Hamlets: 117.6 crimes per 1,000 people (97)
Boroughs such as the City of London and Westminster have historically been associated with higher levels of crime as they each share similar demographics, environments conducive to volume crime and availability of targets for a multitude of crimes, often where the following are present:
- High tourist footfall
- Busy public transport hubs
- Busy hospitality sector
- Night-time economy
Busy boroughs such as these can present an operational and tactical level threat landscape for businesses trading in these areas, which covers theft, robbery, violence against the person, sexual offences, anti-social behaviour, public order and criminal damage.
Is Kensington Safe in 2024?
4-week data – rape cases up 18.2%.
Cases of rape in Kensington and Chelsea have spiked in recent weeks by 18.2%, according to met police reports. This is alongside a general annual increase of 17.5% in sexual offences across the borough.
Worst London Boroughs by Bike Thefts: Statistics and Hotspots
Background
New data has revealed the London boroughs most effected by bicycle theft.
Boroughs by number (12-month data set – November 2021/2022)
- Hackney – 1,869
- Southwark – 1,812
- Tower Hamlets – 1,760
- Camden – 1,567
- Westminster – 1,564
- Hammersmith and Fulham – 1,448
- Islington – 1,268
- Lambeth – 1,267
Analysis
With the year-on-year increase in bicycle use on London’s streets, an increase in the theft of bicycles can be expected. However, 50% of all bicycle thefts occur within just 8 of the 32 London boroughs, all at the city’s centre.
It is likely that commuters who live within a cyclable range of their place of work and who use a bicycle twice a day, at least during the week, represent a significant proportion of the victims of this crime, either falling victim whilst they are working, and their bike is unattended in a public place, or not securing the bike properly when returning home.
Bicycle crime is not always an opportunistic attack by a single offender. In recent months, several Metropolitan Police initiatives have unearthed a coordinated criminal industry of bicycle theft, finding large stockpiles of stolen bicycles stolen for resale.
Only 1.1% of bicycle theft annually leads to a formal criminal sanction. As figures continue to increase alongside the uptake in cycling in London (cost of living crisis, green agenda, etc.), bicycle theft numbers are unlikely to shrink without a definite and observable criminal disincentive.
Business should inform their staff of the heightened risk of having a bicycle stolen within the highest affected boroughs and should endeavour to provide staff with a safe and secure place to put their bicycles during working hours.
High-risk locations for bike storage are outside in public areas. Against railings or gates or in front gardens of homes. Thieves are more willing to use cutting equipment to free a bike which is locked to a purpose-built bicycle rack, it is thereby always safest to secure a bicycle inside a building, whether at work or at home.
How to Prevent Bike Theft
Bike theft is a common problem that cyclists face, but there are ways to prevent it. Here are some tips to keep your bike safe:
- Invest in a good quality lock, preferably a heavy-duty D-lock that is Sold Secure rated. A good rule of thumb is to spend at least a third of the value of your bike on a lock.
- Use two different types of locks, such as a heavy-duty D-lock and a robust chain or cable lock. This will make it more difficult for thieves to steal your bike, as they would need different tools to remove each lock.
- Lock both the frame and wheels to the cycle parking. This will make it more difficult for thieves to take your bike apart and steal the parts.
- Secure your bike as close to the stand as possible, so that it is difficult for thieves to manoeuvre and remove.
- Take any quick-release parts with you, such as quick-release saddles and wheels. These parts can be easily removed and stolen, so it’s best to take them with you.
- Remove any lights from your bike when you leave it unattended. Lights are often stolen because they are easy to remove and sell.
- Register your bike with a national bike registry or local authority’s database. This will help authorities to identify and recover your bike if it is stolen.
By taking these steps, you can greatly reduce the risk of having your bike stolen. Remember to always be vigilant and cautious when parking your bike, and take extra precautions when leaving it in high-risk areas.
London Crime Rate Statistics
The overall crime rate for London in 2022 was 108.2 offences per 1000 people between January and December, which is an increase from 2021 where the figure was 87 per 1,000.
These figures however prove that on average London’s crime average is not representative of the more dangerous borough, with areas such as Westminster and the City of London displaying average crime figures sometimes 5 or 6 times higher than that of the average.
London Knife Crime Statistics
Background
Similar data sets from different reporting periods shine a new light on the extent of knife usage and knife homicides in London and around the country. Data from the ONS, Met Police, Statista and Public Health England display a pattern of vulnerabilities in young people and the extent to which bladed weapons are considered an option for young people. Below is a hotspot map of all homicides from knife attacks in London in 2022.
Analysis
Data sets collated by Statista, which categorise knife-related homicides in London, take January-December figures for 2022 into account and show that of 107 homicides in London in 2022, 67 were resultant of knife attacks, with 37 victims being 20 years old or younger.
Alongside this London-centric data set comes the offering from the Office of National Statistics (ONS), who shed light on the macro picture, which remains in keeping with the same demographics either being arrested in connection with knife crime or being a victim of it. Below charts London knife crime over a 6-year period.
The number of people in England and Wales killed by a knife attack in 2021/2022 (data 12 months to March 2022) was the highest recorded in 76 years.
The number of male victims across England and Wales also rose by 18% from 184 to 218. The largest volume increase across the country (10 homicides to 24 homicides), was teenage boys aged 16-17, which is in keeping with the more recent data for London deaths by age for knife crime.
It is likely that younger members of society who may be naturally predisposed to coercion from older youth or adults, especially those involved in gang activities, have had their vulnerabilities exposed and manipulated by these more established criminals. This is almost certainly more relevant after Covid and the effects this has had on younger members of society.
