It is important for every citizen to know about the crime rates of their area to take preventive measures for the sake of saving their families, friends, and relatives. Also, knowing the stats of the crime rate in your area helps you protect yourself and your business premises as well. These things can help you get the best security service to ensure everything is safe and sound around you and your property.
In this blog, we are going to share the list of the top 15 most dangerous areas in London and the data we are taking is from the Metropolitan Police Services website. This data is publically available on the internet and you can check and confirm all the stats from their website as well. We are taking the most recent stats they have shared on their website from December 2023 to December 2024.
London, which is the capital of England, has a lot of faces and everyone who visits London has their own storey to tell. Some know London for its hustle and bustle culture on the other hand, some tell storeys about the past and heritage. Some tell how the people helped them there while some tell how they got robbed. London is full of life and people try to adapt to the lifestyle to open up to great opportunities.
When talking about London, it is the most populated area of England. According to the World Population Review, the total population of London was approximately 9,748,030 in 2024 and it will increase to 9.8 million in 2025. Moreover, almost 20 million people visit London annually, contributing to England’s economy and creating better business and working opportunities there. In the first half of 2024 (January to June), almost 10.4 million people visited London for different purposes.
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How Do We Have Soured the Data?
At Guard Mark Security, we always provide authentic and legitimate data to ensure transparency. In this blog, we have used multiple public sources including Statista, Public Tableau, and the Metropolitan Police Services website. You can visit these websites by clicking on the provided links and ensuring all the data is correct.
Moreover, all the data and the crime statistics we have mentioned in the blog for the cities and towns are from December 2023 to December 2024. Additionally, to give you a clear understanding of the crime rates, we have mentioned the crime rates by dividing them per 1,000 residents. If you have any questions or queries, you can reach us via comments or email.
What is the Overall Crime Rate in London?
We all know that good and bad are both parts of life. At every place where good people exist, bad people also do. Undoubtedly, London is the capital and the business hub for the country but there are also some issues that London has been facing for a long time. Crime rate is one of them and today we’ll discuss the top 15 places with the highest crimes rates and illegal activities.
But before discussing the areas one by one, let’s take a look at the overall crime rate in London. According to the most recent publicly available data, the crime rate in London is 107 crimes per 1000 population. When compared with the previous year’s statistics, the overall crime rate in London rose by 6.5%, according to the most recent batch of data. The most common crimes and illegal activities people perform in London are theft (283,902 cases), violent crimes (252,568 cases), vehicle crimes (105,570 incidents), and arson & criminal damages (58,072 incidents).
So now that you know what kinds of crimes are most common in London, let’s take a look at the worst areas and their crime rates.
Key Insights into Crime in the City of London in 2025
One thing you should keep in mind while reading this blog is that we haven’t included the district of London in our list of the top 15 worst areas in London. The reason is that only 10,800 people live there permanently but over half a million people are working there. This is the reason the crime rate in the district is so high.
There were over 7,622 criminal offences happened in the city of London as compared to the last year which means the crime rate in the city of London is 705.7 per 1000 population. But these criminal and illegal activities are usually performed by the outsiders who work there. For this sole reason, we haven’t included the city of London in our list of the top worst areas of London.
Revealed: Top 15 Most Dangerous Areas in London
1- Westminster
Westminster’s Crime Rate: 386.4 Crimes Per 1,000 People
Westminster is known as the home of England’s government and is famous for its royal history, architecture, and political significance. There are many other things that increase the importance of the area including the House of the Parliament and Big Ben. However, the area has one of the highest crime rates in London, with 386.4 crimes per 1,000 residents. The crime rate increased by 1.6% last year.
Westminster is the top and most dangerous area of London in terms of the crime rate and illegal activities. The overall crime rate of Westminster is 386.4 crimes per 1,000 residents. Moreover, the total number of crimes that happened in the past 12 months is 100,639. Such a high number of crimes makes Westminster one of the most dangerous areas in London.
The most common and prominent crimes in Westminster
- Theft: 65,559 incidents
- Violence Against the Person: 11,920 incidents
- Vehicle Offences: 4,612 incidents
- Robberies: 4,158 cases
- Public Order Offences: 3,826 incidents
- Drug Offences: 2,397 incidents
- Burglary: 3,329 cases
- Arson and Criminal Damage: 2,597 incidents
- Sexual Offences: 1,619 incidents
- Possession of Weapons: 281 offences
In this time period of 12 months, the crime rate in Westminster increased by 1.6%.
2- Camden
Camden’s Crime Rate: 185.1 Crimes Per 1,000 People
Camden is famous for its rich history, culture, and counter-culture scenes. People also visit Camden to enjoy the live music in The Roundhouse and visit the markets including Camden Market and Camden Lock Market.
There are many other things that help Camden make it one of the best places for tourists including the London Zoo, and the British Museum. The overall crime rate of Camden from Dec 2023 to Dec 2024 is 185.1 crimes per 1,000 residents making it the second most dangerous area in London.
The most common and prominent crimes in Camden
- Theft: 23,234 incidents
- Violence Against the Person: 7,693 offences
- Vehicle Offences: 3,262 incidents
- Burglary: 2,512 cases
- Public Order Offences: 2,416 incidents
- Drug Offences: 1,560 incidents
- Arson and Criminal Damage: 1,975 cases
- Robberies: 1,954 incidents
- Sexual Offences: 933 incidents
- Miscellaneous Crimes Against Society: 227 incidents
- Possession of Weapons: 138 cases
In the past year, the crime rate in Camden increased by 7.5%.
3- Kensington & Chelsea
Kensington & Chelsea’s Crime Rate: 157.3 Crimes Per 1,000 People
Kensington & Chelsea are known for their amazing green spaces, elegant streets, and grand townhouses which makes this area one of the wealthiest and cleanest in the whole of the UK. Kensington & Chelsea also has three famous museums; Natural History Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A), and Leighton House Museum.
According to the statistics we have here, the overall crime rate of Kensington & Chelsea is 157.3 crimes per 1,000 residents making it the 3rd most dangerous area in London.
The most common and prominent crimes in Kensington & Chelsea
- Theft: 10,343 incidents
- Violence Against the Person: 4,833 incidents
- Vehicle Offences: 2,904 cases
- Burglary: 1,633 incidents
- Drug Offences: 922 incidents
- Arson and Criminal Damage: 1,264 incidents
- Public Order Offences: 1,233 incidents
- Robberies: 755 cases
- Sexual Offences: 595 incidents
- Possession of Weapons: 135 cases
- Miscellaneous Crimes Against Society: 159 incidents
These crime rates highlight the need for improved security measures. In the last year, the crime rate in Kensington & Chelsea increased by 1.0%.
4- Islington
Islington’s Crime Rate: 137.0 Crimes Per 1,000 People
Islington is one the renowned boroughs in the north of London famous for its passion for art and culture. There are vibrant streets and independent shopping opportunities where you can buy your desired products and excellent quality. When talking about art and culture, Sadler’s Wells, Screen on the Green, and Estorick Collection are those places you can visit. Moreover, the area is the home to two most progressive and famous universities London Metropolitan University and the University of London.
The overall crime rate in Islington is 137.0 crimes per 1,000 residents and the total number of reported crimes in the last year is 32,633 making it the fourth most dangerous area in London.
The most common and prominent crimes in Islington
- Theft: 13,115 incidents
- Violence Against the Person: 7,352 incidents
- Vehicle Offences: 2,650 cases
- Public Order Offences: 2,018 incidents
- Burglary: 1,942 incidents
- Drug Offences: 1,222 incidents
- Arson and Criminal Damage: 1,780 incidents
- Robberies: 1,332 incidents
- Sexual Offences: 788 incidents
- Miscellaneous Crimes Against Society: 266 incidents
- Possession of Weapons: 161 cases
In the past year, the crime rate in Islington increased by 6.4%.
5- Southwark
Southwark’s Crime Rate: 132.4 Crimes Per 1,000 People
Southwark is one of the places tourists visit for the sake of art, culture, and architectural designs. If you’re an art lover; Tate Modern, Hayward Gallery, and Dulwich Picture Gallery are the places for you. If you are going to explore the culture; Southwark Cathedral, The Clink Prison Museum, and Siobhan Davies Dance are the places you should go. Now last but not least, if you are looking for architectural designs; Peckham Library, City Hall, and The Shard at London Bridge are enough to blow your mind.
Now let’s talk about the things you are here for. The overall crime rate of Southwark is 132.4 crimes per 1,000 residents and the total number of crimes happened is 42,690.
The most common and prominent crimes in Southwark
- Theft: 18,141 incidents
- Violence Against the Person: 8,944 incidents
- Vehicle Offences: 3,057 incidents
- Burglary: 2,595 incidents
- Drug Offences: 1,634 incidents
- Robberies: 2,292 incidents
- Arson and Criminal Damage: 2,203 incidents
- Public Order Offences: 2,156 incidents
- Sexual Offences: 1,131 incidents
- Possession of Weapons: 254 incidents
- Miscellaneous Crimes Against Society: 278 incidents
The overall crime rate in Southwark increased by 6.5% from December 2023 to December 2024.
6- Hackney
Hackney’s Crime Rate: 128.7 Crimes Per 1,000 People
Hackney is well known for its art, cultural diversion, and lush green spaces which makes Hackney one of the most popular tourist destinations in London. There are many other places Hackney is known for including community, nightlife, transportation, food, and more. Some notable places in Hackney are Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Victoria Park, Hackney Marshes, and Geffrye Museum.
The overall crime rate of Hackney is 128.7 crimes per 1,000 residents and the total number of crimes that happened is 36,245.
The most common and prominent crimes in Hackney
- Theft: 13,283 incidents
- Violence Against the Person: 8,621 incidents
- Vehicle Offences: 2,833 incidents
- Burglary: 2,454 incidents
- Public Order Offences: 2,296 incidents
- Drug Offences: 1,489 incidents
- Arson and Criminal Damage: 1,914 incidents
- Robberies: 1,917 incidents
- Sexual Offences: 958 incidents
- Miscellaneous Crimes Against Society: 266 incidents
- Possession of Weapons: 208 incidents
Additionally, the crime rate in Hackney has increased by 5.6% over the past year.
7- Hammersmith & Fulham
Hammersmith & Fulham’s Crime Rate: 125.2 Crimes Per 1,000 People
Hammersmith & Fulham is one of the most popular places for football lovers and is the house of 3 great and well-known football clubs. When talking about art and entertainment; Hammersmith Apollo, Television Centre, Music companies, and Concert and exhibition halls are the places you can visit. There are many other places including Hammersmith Bridge and Ark office building you can visit for the sake of architecture.
When talking about crime rates overall crime rate of Hammersmith & Fulham is 125.2 crimes per 1,000 residents and the total number of crimes that happened is 23,031.
The most common and prominent crimes in Hammersmith & Fulham
- Theft: 7,383 incidents
- Violence Against the Person: 6,047 incidents
- Vehicle Offences: 2,235 incidents
- Public Order Offences: 1,762 incidents
- Drug Offences: 1,100 incidents
- Burglary: 1,524 incidents
- Arson and Criminal Damage: 1,331 incidents
- Robberies: 695 incidents
- Sexual Offences: 627 incidents
- Miscellaneous Crimes Against Society: 207 incidents
- Possession of Weapons: 113 incidents
The crime rates in the area decreased by 2.2% in the last year which is an achievement of the police and local authorities.
8- Tower Hamlets
Tower Hamlets’s Crime Rate: 124.8 Crimes Per 1,000 People
Tower Hamlets is also known as the Heart of the East End and has iconic landmarks including the Tower of London and Tower Bridge. When talking about the markets and the shopping places; Brick Lane Market and Columbia Road Flower Market are places you can visit to spend some quality time with your loved ones. There are many other places you can visit for the sake of entertainment and exploration.
The overall crime rate of Tower Hamlets is 124.8 crimes per 1,000 residents and the total number of crimes that happened is 39,607.
The most common and prominent crimes in Tower Hamlets
- Theft: 12,000 incidents
- Violence Against the Person: 10,643 incidents
- Drug Offences: 2,457 incidents
- Vehicle Offences: 3,557 incidents
- Burglary: 2,677 incidents
- Public Order Offences: 2,670 incidents
- Arson and Criminal Damage: 2,305 incidents
- Robberies: 1,581 incidents
- Sexual Offences: 1,099 incidents
- Miscellaneous Crimes Against Society: 384 incidents
- Possession of Weapons: 225 incidents
The crime rate in Tower Hamlets has increased by 1.4% in the last year.
9- Newham
Newham’s Crime Rate of 124.0 Crimes Per 1,000 People
People remember Newham for the 2012 Olympics cause it was hosted there and now the area is famous for the sporting events. One of the most popular shopping malls; Westfield Stratford is also in Newham that grabs the attention of many tourists. Newham is also famous for its notorious gangs and other criminal activities.
The most common and prominent crimes in Newham
- Theft: 15,496 incidents
- Violence Against the Person: 10,760 incidents
- Vehicle Offences: 4,901 incidents
- Drug Offences: 2,248 incidents
- Public Order Offences: 2,293 incidents
- Burglary: 2,203 incidents
- Arson and Criminal Damage: 2,181 incidents
- Robberies: 1,842 incidents
- Sexual Offences: 1,084 incidents
- Miscellaneous Crimes Against Society: 516 incidents
- Possession of Weapons: 238 incidents
The crime rate in Newham increased by 7.6% which is huge for both residents and tourists alike.
10- Lambeth
Lambeth’s Crime Rate: 123.1 Crimes Per 1,000 People
Lambeth is well known and famous for its rich history, culture, and iconic landmarks that instantly grab the visitor’s attention. When talking about the famous and iconic landmarks of Lambeth; Lambeth Palace, London Eye, Brixton Windmill, Oval Cricket Ground, Newport Street Gallery, Imperial War Museum, Florence Nightingale Museum, and Old Vic are the places you can visit and explore.
Despite having some of the most positive attributes, the crime rate in Lambeth is increasing by a huge margin. The overall crime rate of Lambeth is 123.1 crimes per 1,000 residents and the total number of crimes that happened is 41,182.
The most common and prominent crimes in Lambeth
- Theft: 14,315 incidents
- Violence Against the Person: 9,870 incidents
- Vehicle Offences: 3,781 incidents
- Public Order Offences: 2,522 incidents
- Robberies: 2,521 incidents
- Arson and Criminal Damage: 2,506 incidents
- Burglary: 2,281 incidents
- Drug Offences: 1,571 incidents
- Sexual Offences: 1,263 incidents
- Miscellaneous Crimes Against Society: 317 incidents
- Possession of Weapons: 232 incidents
The crime rates in the area increased by 7.9% from Dec 2023 to Dec 2024 as per the statistics.
11- Haringey
Haringey’s Crime Rate: 107.2 Crimes Per 1,000 People
Haringey is well known and famous for many landmarks including the historic Bruce Castle Museum, beautiful Finsbury Park, and the world-class Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Haringey is also home to the famous Tottenham Hotspur Football Club. One of the places that attracts many visitors is Alexandra Palace also known as Ally Pally. The region also has many green spaces that enhance its beauty.
The overall crime rate of Haringey is 107.2 crimes per 1,000 residents and the total number of crimes that happened is 30,477.
The most common and prominent crimes in Haringey
- Theft: 8,692 incidents
- Violence Against the Person: 7,936 incidents
- Vehicle Offences: 3,975 incidents
- Drug Offences: 1,518 incidents
- Public Order Offences: 1,858 incidents
- Burglary: 1,833 incidents
- Arson and Criminal Damage: 1,831 incidents
- Robberies: 1,469 incidents
- Sexual Offences: 908 incidents
- Miscellaneous Crimes Against Society: 275 incidents
- Possession of Weapons: 178 incidents
The crime rate decreased in the recent year by 5.6% in Haringey.
12- Greenwich
Greenwich’s Crime Rate: 104.9 Crimes Per 1,000 People
Greenwich is one of the most picturesque riverside cities in London where people love to spend quality time with their loved ones. Also, the riverside hotels in the city provide comfortable accommodations to tourists with the most amazing views in the world. When talking about maritime history, you can visit places like Greenwich Meridian, Greenwich Mean Time, Cutty Sark, and the National Maritime Museum. Moreover, the history-related places here are the Royal Observatory Greenwich, Queen’s House, Ranger’s House, and The Fan Museum.
The overall crime rate of Greenwich is 104.9 crimes per 1,000 residents and the total number of crimes that happened is 30,025.
The most common and prominent crimes in Greenwich
- Violence Against the Person: 9,452 incidents
- Theft: 7,248 incidents
- Vehicle Offences: 3,249 incidents
- Drug Offences: 1,576 incidents
- Public Order Offences: 2,133 incidents
- Arson and Criminal Damage: 2,206 incidents
- Burglary: 1,636 incidents
- Robberies: 993 incidents
- Sexual Offences: 894 incidents
- Miscellaneous Crimes Against Society: 423 incidents
- Possession of Weapons: 213 incidents
The crime rate slightly decreased by 0.8% in Greenwich in the last year.
13- Lewisham
Lewisham’s Crime Rate: 104.7 Crimes Per 1,000 People
Lewisham is famous for its history, culture, many iconic landmarks, and green spaces including Manor House Gardens, Blackheath Common, Beckenham Place Park, and Sydenham Garden. Moreover, while exploring the history of Lewisham, you can look at the Battle of Lewisham, Horniman Museum and Gardens, and Deptford.
The overall crime rate in Lewisham is 104.7 crimes per 1,000 residents and the total number of crimes that happened is 32,493.
The most common and prominent crimes in Lewisham
- Violence Against the Person: 9,848 incidents
- Theft: 8,239 incidents
- Vehicle Offences: 3,584 incidents
- Public Order Offences: 2,293 incidents
- Drug Offences: 1,624 incidents
- Arson and Criminal Damage: 2,234 incidents
- Burglary: 1,968 incidents
- Robberies: 1,114 incidents
- Sexual Offences: 1,053 incidents
- Miscellaneous Crimes Against Society: 318 incidents
- Possession of Weapons: 215 incidents
The crime rates in Lewisham increased by 2.0% over the past year, highlighting a need for enhanced security measures.
14- Brent
Brent’s Crime Rate: 103.6 Crimes Per 1,000 People
Brent is one of the famous boroughs in the Northwest of London famous for its major attributes like Wembley Stadium, BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir (Neasden Temple), Cultural diversity, and Kiln Theatre. There are multiple sites and places you can visit in Brent and spend some quality time while exploration. Brent is full of commercial areas and people with different cultures and ethnicities.
The overall crime rate in Brent is 103.6 crimes per 1,000 residents and the total number of crimes that happened in the area from Dec 2023 to Dec 2024 are 34,885 incidents.
The most common and prominent crimes in Brent
- Violence Against the Person: 10,113 incidents
- Theft: 9,581 incidents
- Vehicle Offences: 4,039 cases
- Drug Offences: 1,797 incidents
- Public Order Offences: 2,303 incidents
- Arson and Criminal Damage: 2,230 incidents
- Burglary: 2,172 incidents
- Robberies: 1,233 incidents
- Sexual Offences: 874 incidents
- Miscellaneous Crimes Against Society: 344 incidents
- Possession of Weapons: 194 incidents
In the last 12 months, the crime rate in Brent increased by 2.5%.
15- Hounslow
Hounslow’s Crime Rate: 103.3 Crimes Per 1,000 People
Hounslow is famous for its famous greenspaces and Heathrow Airport which makes it one of the most comfortable and convenient places for tourists and visitors. The key points about Hounslow are Heathrow Airport, Historic Parks, Hounslow Heath, and the Diverse Community. The diverse community experience gives visitors a new experience about knowing and exploring different cultures.
The overall crime rate in Hounslow is 103.3 crimes per 1,000 residents and the total number of crimes that happened is 28,738.
The most common and prominent crimes in Hounslow
- Violence Against the Person: 9,148 incidents
- Theft: 7,171 incidents
- Vehicle Offences: 3,530 incidents
- Arson and Criminal Damage: 2,075 incidents
- Public Order Offences: 1,993 incidents
- Burglary: 1,717 incidents
- Drug Offences: 1,089 incidents
- Sexual Offences: 776 incidents
- Robberies: 728 incidents
- Miscellaneous Crimes Against Society: 366 incidents
- Possession of Weapons: 143 incidents
The crime rate in Hounslow slightly decreased by 2.4% according to the most recent and fresh batch of data.
Knife Crime In London – Top 10 areas for knife crime in London
As you, we have mentioned the top 1 most dangerous areas in London and shared the crime statistics with you. Now let’s explore some statistics about knife crime in London. Knife and sharp object crime in London is increasing by a huge margin. The total knife crime count in London from Dec 2023 to Dec 2024 is 17,058 incidents and the knife crime rate has increased by 7.0% in the last 12 months period. ( See out Is Knife Crime in UK Schools on the Rise? ).
When talking about the top 10 areas for knife crime in London, here are the areas with the most number of crimes:
- Westminster: 986 knife crimes in the last 12 months (3.8 knife crimes per 1,000 residents)
- Lambeth: 999 knife crimes in the last 12 months (3.0 knife crimes per 1,000 residents)
- Southwark: 847 knife crimes in the last 12 months (2.6 knife crimes per 1,000 residents)
- Haringey: 729 knife crimes in the last 12 months (2.6 knife crimes per 1,000 residents)
- Barking & Dagenham: 540 knife crimes in the last 12 months (2.5 knife crimes per 1,000 residents)
- Newham: 873 knife crimes in the last 12 months (2.5 knife crimes per 1,000 residents)
- Hackney: 682 knife crimes in the last 12 months (2.4 knife crimes per 1,000 residents)
- Camden: 583 knife crimes in the last 12 months (2.4 knife crimes per 1,000 residents)
- Tower Hamlets: 698 knife crimes in the last 12 months (2.2 knife crimes per 1,000 residents)
- Croydon: 857 knife crimes in the last 12 months (2.2 knife crimes per 1,000 residents)
Safety Tips and Recommendations for London’s Residents
We know it’s difficult to live in a place with a high crime rate and illegal activities but there are some tips and recommendations you can use or adapt to make sure everything is safe around you. Here are some of them:
Safety Gears
There are plenty of safety gears available in the market that can help you ensure your safety and security. You can carry the pepper spray or the folding steel stick. Carrying a personal alarm is also a good option that you can use for the sake of security.
Property Safety
Maintaining a business in a high-crime place is a huge challenge but you can take preventive measures by using the devices and tools for your property safety. Guard Mark Security can help you install the CCTV cameras and then monitor them to ensure your property is safe, especially at nighttime. Moreover, we can help you by installing the alarms and motion detectors.
Secured Routes
Avoid taking the short routes and always try to take the busy and well-lit routes so that there will be fewer chances of you getting robbed.
So these are some of the things that you can use and adopt for the sake of your and your business’s safety in London.
Ideal Security Guarding Company in London
Guard Mark Security is one of the most well-known and reputed security guard companies in London and has helped hundreds of businesses ensure the safety and security of their employees, customers, and premises. All of our security guards are SIA licenced and are vetted per BS7858 Standards.
If you are looking for a professional company that can take care of all your security needs, Guard Mark is the one. Contact us to get more information related to our services. Our friendly and knowledgeable team is here 24/7 to answer all your queries in the best manner. Let’s make London a safer place together.
