London saw the lowest number of homicides of under-25s for more than two decades last year, new figures have revealed. The capital recorded 10 intentional killings of the age group this year, compared with 26 at the end of August 2024 – with none recorded during the traditionally crime-ridden summer holiday period.
The number of teenage homicides has also fallen in the same time period from nine to four, and across all ages from 78 to 58. Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan said the results were “encouraging” but maintained that “one death is one too many” in the capital.
But while City Hall welcomed the results, Sir Sadiq was accused of failing to get a complete grip on the situation or listening to those affected by violence in the capital. Earlier today one anti-knife crime campaigner said the Mayor had “promised the earth” when pledging to end violent crime in London but “delivered nothing”.
Sir Sadiq credited the Met Police’s reformed approach to tackling serious violence, which involves cracking down on organised crime groups.
He also said the Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) established in 2019 has helped invest in youth workers, support for families and programmes for young people to divert them from a life of crime. Homicide figures from an average of 102 between 2017 and 2019 to an average of 74 between 2022 and 2024, according to figures analysed by the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).
The Mayor of London 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 summer months are traditionally a very challenging time of year with young people more at risk of exploitation and violence, but through London’s Violence Reduction Unit and the Met Police we’ve been working incredibly hard with partners across the capital to provide support and help.
“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.”
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley added: “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.
“That’s because we’re proactively targeting dangerous offenders and dismantling organised crime groups, while safeguarding those at risk of exploitation. As a result, less people are being killed and injured and our city is safer.
“We’re not complacent and we will never stop the fight against serious violence. One senseless death is one too many.”
Sir Sadiq has often been criticised by his political opponents for overseeing a “lawless” city, in their words – but the Mayor’s office has often hit back with statistics showing that some forms of crime have fallen under his tenure. Last month the Mayor said new City Hall data shows knife crime dropped by 19% between April and June this year compared with the same period last year, while the number of residential burglaries, personal thefts and personal robberies also fell.
But some offences, such as possession of weapons, rape and drug trafficking, all increased in that period. Earlier today the Mayor was accused by campaigners of failing to listen to those affected by knife crime and homicides.
Sue Hedges, whose 27-year-old son Ricky Hayden was stabbed to death by a teenager in 2016, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “Mr Khan needs to join the real world. He has promised me the earth and delivered absolutely nothing.
“Where he gets his figures from – I don’t know. This guy does nothing for London or the community. He needs to look at the bigger picture go out meet the likes of me – a bereaved parent – and ask us what we think should be done. I am tired of campaigning and not getting heard.”
Ms Hedges, an ardent campaigner, started her work after Mr Hayden was stabbed in Romford trying to stop his brother’s scooter from being stolen almost a decade ago.
Susan Hall, the Conservative group leader on the London Assembly, told the LDRS: “A fall in deaths of London’s young people must always be welcomed, but it is shocking that this is something for the Mayor to celebrate whilst knife crime continues to rise and whilst he oversees the loss of up to 1,700 officers.
“The only way to reduce knife crime across the board is to properly fund our police service. The Mayor continues to refuse to do this despite having over £21billion to spend in his budget, and as a result many more will continue to pay the price.”
Liberal Democrat Assembly Member Gareth Roberts told the LDRS: “We welcome any reduction in crime, but the Mayor’s figures only tell part of the story. Londoners still face unacceptably high levels of knife crime and violence, and rather than carefully cherry-picking stats, we need a Mayor who will stand up to this Labour Government’s abject failure to adequately fund the Met Police.”
Overall recorded crime has increased by 31.5% in the Metropolitan Police area of London in the last 10 years, with violent crime increasing by 40%, according to official crime data.
The political attacks on the Mayor are unlikely to stop as the 2028 election approaches, however, with the Conservative Party and Reform UK likely to make the issue central to their campaign.
Westminster councillor Laila Cunningham – tipped to be the Reform UK London Mayoral candidate – confronted Sir Sadiq in July over rising knife crime levels.
A total of 16,344 knife crimes were recorded by the Met police and City of London police in the 12 months to March, compared with 14,939 in the previous year.
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