The number of knife or sharp instrument offences recorded by the police in London rose to approximately 12,786 in 2022/23, compared with 11,122 in the previous year. This was the highest number of knife crime offences reported in London since 2019/20, when there were 15,928. Between 2015/16 and 2019/20, knife crime in London increased yearly, with a particularly large increase occurring between 2016/16 and 2017/18.
A wider trend
The increase in knife crime witnessed in London has occurred alongside a general increase in overall crime throughout England and Wales. In 2022/23, there were approximately 6.74 million crime offences across England and Wales, compared with just over four million ten years earlier. During a similar time period, the number of knife homicides also increased, and reached 282 in 2021/22, compared with 186 in 2014/15. Due to strict gun laws in the United Kingdom, firearms are rarely used to commit homicides, with knives or other sharp instruments being used in over 40 percent of homicides in 2021/22.
Acid and moped attacks
While knife crime in London has certainly been given a lot of attention by the British media, the increase in acid and moped attacks during the same time period also generated many headlines. In 2017 for example there were 472 acid attacks recorded by the Metropolitan Police, compared with just 51 in 2007. Moped crime also reached high levels in 2017, with both types of crime decreasing somewhat by 2019. Although overall crime in London continued to rise until 2019/20, this fell back during the COVID-19 pandemic, and in 2022/23, there were fewer crimes committed than in 2019/20.
FAQs
The number of knife or sharp instrument offences recorded by the police in London rose to approximately 12,786 in 2022/23, compared with 11,122 in the previous year. This was the highest number of knife crime offences reported in London since 2019/20, when there were 15,928.
How many knife deaths in London in 2023? ›
Statistics from the Metropolitan Police revealed that in London there was a total of 67 knife-related homicides across all ages recorded in the 12 months leading up to June 2023, which was the highest number recorded in the UK.
Has knife crime gone down in London? ›
Police-recorded knife crime in London did rise by a fifth in the last year, and is up compared with when Boris Johnson left office, but it still remains below the pre-pandemic peak of 164 crimes for every 100,000 people.
Is crime in London going up or down? ›
By several measures, violent crime in London has gotten worse in recent years, although there are some signs this trend is reversing. Violent crime declined in 2022/23 when compared with the previous year, while overall crime in 2022/23 was slightly lower than in 2019/20.
How many murders in England in 2023? ›
Number of police recorded homicide offences in England and Wales from 2002/03 to 2022/23
| Characteristic | Number of homicides offences |
|---|
| 2022/23 | 602 |
| 2021/22 | 697 |
| 2020/21 | 574 |
| 2019/20 | 720 |
9 more rowsMar 1, 2024
In the real world, the rate of fatal stabbings in London is well under one per day. If London has 40 a day, the rest of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland must have about -39 to make the total numbers balance.
What country has the worst knife crime? ›
Introduction
| # | Country | Stabbing Death Rate |
|---|
| 1 | South Africa | 16.95 per 100k |
| 2 | Lesotho | 16.38 per 100k |
| 3 | Eswatini | 9.31 per 100k |
| 4 | Botswana | 8.88 per 100k |
98 more rowsThe number of knife or sharp instrument offences recorded by the police in London rose to approximately 12,786 in 2022/23, compared with 11,122 in the previous year. This was the highest number of knife crime offences reported in London since 2019/20, when there were 15,928.
How safe is London for tourists? ›
London is generally a safe destination for solo travelers, thanks to its efficient public transportation system and significant police presence. However, according to Numbeo statistics, London isn't the safest place for nighttime solo strolls, particularly in high-crime areas.
Which London borough has the most stabbings? ›
The two London Boroughs with the highest rate of gun and knife crime are Southwark and Lambeth. Other London Boroughs with high gun and knife crime rates include Brent, Haringey and Hackney.
London's population is 8.98 million people compared to New York City's 8.623 million people. When we take into account the population size, we find that the rate of violent crime per 1,000 people is actually much higher in London at 1.77 compared to New York City's 1.39.
Is crime in London getting worse? ›
The overall crime figures for London also show a trend of increasing crime in the UK capital. In 2015/16 for example, there were 743,728 crimes recorded in London, compared to 887,870 in 2022/23. This follows a similar pattern seen in the rest of the United Kingdom, which has an.
What is the safest city in the world? ›
The Latest Cities With Lowest Crime Rate In The World Statistics Explained. Abu Dhabi, UAE has been named the safest city in the world, according to Numbeo's 2020 index with a safety index of 88.46. According to Numbeo's 2020 index, Abu Dhabi, UAE has been designated as the safest city in the world.
Which country has the most murders 2023? ›
Saint Kitts and Nevis saw a murder rate of 65 per 100,000 inhabitants, making it the most dangerous country for this kind of crime worldwide as of 2023. Interestingly, El Salvador, who long had the highest global homicide rates, has dropped out of the top 20 after a high number of gang members have been incarcerated.
Which UK city has the most murders? ›
In 2022/23 there were 112 homicide offences recorded in London, the most of any region of the United Kingdom during that time period. North West England, which includes the large city of Manchester had 79 homicides, and had the second highest number of homicides.
What city has the most murders in 2023? ›
30 U.S. Cities With the Highest Murders in 2023
- Louisville, Kentucky. ...
- Washington, D.C. ...
- Detroit, Michigan. ...
- Kansas City, Missouri. Murders in 2023: 96. ...
- Indianapolis, Indiana. Murders in 2023: 96. ...
- New York City, New York. Murders in 2023: 100. ...
- Los Angeles, California. Murders in 2023: 102. ...
- Houston, Texas. Murders in 2023: 109.
During a similar time period, the number of knife homicides also increased, and reached 282 in 2021/22, compared with 186 in 2014/15. Due to strict gun laws in the United Kingdom, firearms are rarely used to commit homicides, with knives or other sharp instruments being used in over 40 percent of homicides in 2021/22.
How many murders in London in 2023? ›
In 2022/23 there were 112 homicide offences recorded in London, the most of any region of the United Kingdom during that time period. North West England, which includes the large city of Manchester had 79 homicides, and had the second highest number of homicides.
What is the crime rate in London 2023? ›
The overall crime rate in London in 2023 was 105 crimes per 1,000, and the most common crimes were violence and sexual offences, which happened to roughly every 30 out of 1,000 daytime population. Compared with the UK as a whole, London's crime rate is 32% worse than the UK average of 79.52 per 1,000 people.
How many murders are there a year in London? ›
There were 112 homicides recorded by the police in London for the period in the 2022/23 reporting year, compared with 124 in the previous reporting year. During this provided time period, the reporting year for 2017/18 had the most homicides in London at 159, with the fewest occurring in 2016/17, when there were 107.
