London’s homicide rate drops to lowest in more than a decade

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 4 min read 100% complete by Vikram Dodd Police and crime correspondentJanuary 12, 2026 at 07:00 AM

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London's homicide rate has reached its lowest level in over a decade, with 97 homicides recorded in 2025, a significant decrease from 153 in 2019 and 181 in 2005. This decline occurs despite a population increase, resulting in 1.1 killings per 100,000 residents. The reduction is particularly notable among those under 25, with only 18 homicides recorded in 2025 compared to 69 in 2017. Police officials and the mayor attribute this improvement to focused policing strategies and youth diversion programs. The mayor also highlighted the success of a "public health" approach to violence reduction, addressing factors like poverty and lack of opportunity. These statistics are being used to counter claims of rising crime from right-wing critics.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

New York City (New York) 30% Conservative Party (Conservatives) 40% Donald Trump 40% Reform UK (Reform) 40% Berlin 40% Brussels 40% Paris 40% UK 50% Violence Reduction Unit 60% Metropolitan Police ×270% Sadiq Khan ×380% London ×1090%

Keywords

homicide rate 100% london 90% crime 70% violence 60% youth crime 50% public health approach 50% crime statistics 40% metropolitan police 40%

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Positive

Score: 0.40

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The Guardian - World News

Political Lean

Center-Left (-0.40)

Far LeftCenterFar Right

Classification Confidence

90%

Geographic Perspective

London

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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homicide rate london crime violence youth crime public health approach crime statistics metropolitan police

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