London's mayor and police chief are using a reported decrease in street crime to assert that the city remains safe for tourists and residents, pushing back against what they describe as an alarming online narrative that portrays the British capital as dangerous. Mayor Sadiq Khan and Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mark Rowley pointed to recent statistics showing a decline in certain categories of crime as evidence against what they called a "lawless dystopia."
The Metropolitan Police reported a 14% decrease in "neighborhood crime"—which includes offenses such as phone theft, pickpocketing, residential burglary, and vehicle crime—for the year ending in June. In Westminster, an area encompassing major tourist attractions like Parliament and Leicester Square, these crimes fell by more than a third, and by a quarter in the adjacent borough of Camden, another popular tourist destination.
Khan stated that over the past two years, there has been a "200% increase in stories on social media about London being in quote unquote ‘decline’ or London being dangerous." He attributes this surge in negative online content to an "outrage economy" that profits from negativity. Khan also suggested that bot farms, state actors from Russia and China, and U.S.-based "MAGA-backed influencers" are contributing to these narratives, aiming to diminish London's reputation due to its liberal, progressive, multicultural, and successful identity. He indicated that if social media companies do not address the issue, government regulation may be necessary.
Violent crime, including homicides, has also been falling in London, similar to trends observed in other major European and North American cities. In 2025, police recorded 97 homicides in London, the lowest number since 2014, and a rate per capita lower than cities such as Paris, Berlin, or New York.
However, Khan acknowledged concerns about a rise in hate crimes targeting Muslim and Jewish communities, partly linked to conflicts in the Middle East. He emphasized the need to build confidence among these communities to report such crimes and to ensure the safety of their places of worship.
Street-level offenses that impact daily life, such as phone snatching, shoplifting, and fare dodging, are being addressed through a combination of visible police patrols in high-crime areas, intelligence-driven operations against prolific offenders, and the use of technology. Rowley highlighted the force's "innovative and creative" use of facial recognition technology as part of these efforts, alongside traditional policing methods.
Rowley, appointed police commissioner in 2022, has been leading the Met Police as it works to restore public trust following past scandals. He stressed that the force operates impartially under the law, serving all citizens with equal vigor and declining to be drawn into culture war debates.
One visitor from Virginia, 21-year-old university student Julianne Sweeten, remarked that London felt "a lot safer than the U.S.," noting a low threat of gun violence and finding her concerns about phone-snatching unfounded. Long-time London resident Vicky Hawkins, 78, believes crime levels are about the same as they have been historically, though she acknowledges a public perception of increased unsafety.