London’s summer homicide figures reveal a rare decline, with no youth killings. Yet critics say Khans crime record is still bad.
Khan says nothing is more important than keeping Londoners safe. (Image: Getty)
London recorded no youth killings over summer, for the first time in years, but Sadiq Khan immediately faced accusations of complacency over crime rates. Provisional figures from City Hall and the Met Police show 58 people of all ages were killed between June and August, down a quarter from 78 during the same period last year.
Officials said it was the lowest summer homicide total since 2018 and the first school holiday period with no under-25 victims.
The Mayor called the numbers “encouraging”.
He said: “Nothing is more important to me than keeping Londoners safe and it is encouraging that we have had the fewest number of homicides in London across June, July and August in years, with no under-25 homicides during the school summer holiday period.”
The Commissioner thanked “hardworking Met officers”. (Image: Getty)
But Conservatives said Mr Khan should not be celebrating. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp, the Croydon MP, said: “Whilst any fall in these numbers is welcome, this is far from a done deal – and the Mayor should not be standing on his laurels. Under Sadiq Khan’s watch knife crime has soared, and far too many people have tragically lost their lives.”
He added: “And with him at the helm shoplifting has hit record high levels, phones are being stolen every seven-and-a-half minutes, and the Met Police has announced that it will lose 1,500 police officers, and 200 police staff this year, alongside the forced closure of half of all police station front counters in the capital. We need police officers on the streets and stronger action against individuals carrying knives. Only the Conservatives will deliver that.”
Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley credited frontline officers with driving down killings. He said: “Thanks to the efforts of the thousands of hardworking Met officers and staff, our sustained crackdown on violent crime is working. Homicide is at a 10-year low, violent incidents in which people are injured are down by a fifth – proportionally lower than any other UK city – and firearms discharges are less than half the level they were seven years ago.”
The Police launched a summer crackdown. (Image: Getty)
He added: “We’re not complacent and we will never stop the fight against serious violence. One senseless death is one too many.”
Other Met figures show long-term improvements since 2016. Knife crime with injury among under-25s has fallen by 26%, burglary by 27% and lethal gun discharges by 43%.
Mr Khan pointed to prevention work as the reason for the safer summer. He said: “These latest figures show that this work is making a difference, but I’m very clear that one death is one too many and I will continue to do all I can with our partners to tackle violence and its causes, as we build a safer London for everyone.”
City Hall credits the Violence Reduction Unit, launched in 2019, with providing extra youth workers, family support and diversion schemes. Officials say the unit has helped deliver more than 450,000 opportunities for young people and cut hospital admissions for under-25s stabbed with knives by 40%.
But Tory MPs insist Londoners still face record thefts, fewer police and rising knife attacks, warning that one safe summer is not enough to repair the Mayor’s crime record.
