I come bearing some rather pleasant news, I suppose, folks. The Metropolitan Police have just released a series of new figures, revealing that London’s homicide rate is at an all time low. According to the data, there were 97 homicides in 2025. This number has shrunk by 11% compared to the previous year (in which there were 109 homicides), and has almost halved since 2005 (in which there were 181).
London’s homicide rate in 2025 was 1.1 per 100,000 people, marking the lowest homicide rate in recorded history – despite the capital’s population continuing to significantly rise. The Met have confirmed that London now officially has a lower homicide rate than many other major global cities, including New York, Berlin, Paris, and LA.
Other fairly momentous milestones revealed in the recently-released data include firearms discharges being at less than half of what they were seven years ago, violent incidents falling by a fifth in the past decade, and knife-related killings involving people under 25 having halved over the past two decades.
London’s approach to homicide has been supported by the Mayor of London’s Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) since 2019, which combats violent crime through prevention and early intervention. This proactive approach, alongside intelligence-led policing, cutting-edge technology, and the Met’s ‘relentless pursuit of justice’ have all contributed towards the decline in homicide rates.
Met Police Commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, said: “I am privileged to lead such extraordinary people. Three years ago, I pledged that we would make London safer through more trust and less crime. London’s record-low homicide rate is the result of relentless work: arresting 1,000 more offenders each month, using innovative technology such as live facial recognition to solve more crime, and taking precise action against the most dangerous gangs, organised criminals, and predatory men who target women and children.
“The results speak for themselves: fewer lives lost, fewer families shattered. Every murder is a tragedy, but we will continue to use every tool at our disposal to drive down serious violence. This work will not stop, and neither will our determination to keep Londoners safe.”